We might only be four games into the new Premier League season but that doesn’t mean there aren’t already managers under intense pressure.
The impending three-week international break doesn’t help either as it gives owners plenty of time to make a change and for a new manager to get to know his squad before their first game in charge.
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As such, UK betting sites have cut the odds on Frank Lampard being the first managerial casualty of the season as Coventry have found the step up to the Premier League difficult to adjust to.
They have lost their opening four matches without scoring a single goal but to put things put into perspective they have played away at both Arsenal and Manchester City.
But, surely after ending a 25-year wait to be back in the top-flight and winning the Championship with 95 points and 97 goals scored, Lampard has plenty of credit in the bank?
He is 5/1 with football betting sites to be the first manager sacked but he’s not the favourite, that accolade goes to the new Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa who is 3/1 for the sack.
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The Spaniard has picked up just one point from his first four games and that came last time out, when they held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield.
The Cottagers have been beaten by Chelsea, Sunderland and Crystal Palace but they have scored four goals and a further six in two League Cup ties so perhaps a change in fortunes isn’t too far away.
The pressure is ramping up on Michael Carrick
After an excellent start to life back at Old Trafford, hopes were high that Michael Carrick could build on their third placed finish last season and close the gap between Manchester United and their local rivals City.
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They spent over £160m in the summer bringing in six players including Youri Tielemens, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, but their season got off to the worst possible start with a 2-0 defeat away at Hull.
They followed it up with a 5-2 win over Ipswich Town and a 2-2 draw at Everton before Sunday’s controversial defeat at home to City.
Betting apps are offering 9/1 on Carrick to be the first managerial casualty, just behind Palace boss Pierre Sage and Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Is the manager really the problem at Spurs?
Despite bringing in eight new players and spending well over £300m nothing seems to have changed at Spurs, who currently sit 17th in the Premier League, with just two points on the board and no goals scored.
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De Zerbi’s side have lost to Brentford and Newcastle and drawn 0-0 with both Nottingham Forest and Everton.
They were then beaten 3-1 by Liverpool at Anfield in the League Cup on Tuesday, with Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all on target for the home side.
After narrowly avoiding relegation for the last two seasons and having had four different managers in that time, the last thing the Spurs board will want is more upheaval, but if results don’t turn around you have to wonder how long they will wait.
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