Premier League sack race: Who will be the first manager sacked this season?

No Premier League manager has lost their job yet this season, but that could change within days. After a damaging weekend, Michael Carrick, Pierre Sage and now Frank Lampard are all under serious pressure in the Premier League sack race.

Here is where each of them stands, what their next fixtures look like, and who else could be in danger.

Michael Carrick – Manchester United

Record: Eight games without a win in all competitions, 16th in the table

Carrick is the clear favourite in the Premier League sack race after Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. It came four days after a 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League, and left United one point above the relegation zone.

Carrick dropped captain Bruno Fernandes for the game after the midfielder had criticised his tactics in Italy. Fernandes stayed on the bench throughout as United were booed off. The Old Trafford crowd sang Carrick’s name and directed its anger at the club’s owners, but Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both said on Sky Sports that a change now looked inevitable.

It is a sharp fall for a coach who was handed a permanent two-year contract in May after guiding United to third place. Carrick has insisted his lap of the pitch was not a farewell, but the club are reportedly weighing up alternatives. ESPN sources say Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are among those being considered. Read the latest on Carrick’s Manchester United future.

Next game: Chelsea (A), Saturday 31 October, 12.30pm

Pierre Sage – Crystal Palace

Record: Five defeats in eight league games, 17th in the table, worst defence in the league

Sage replaced Oliver Glasner in June after leading Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and the club’s first Coupe de France. Palace have struggled under him. Back-to-back defeats to Brighton (5-0) and Newcastle (2-0) have left them with seven points from eight games, and Sage was booed by home fans on Sunday.

Palace have conceded 19 league goals, more than anyone else. Some of the blame lies with the board, which failed to properly replace Maxence Lacroix after his sale to Chelsea. Reports suggest chairman Steve Parish considered a change after the Brighton thrashing but opted to give Sage more time. According to talkSPORT, as reported by Brit Brief, Palace’s shortlist of possible replacements includes Sean Dyche, Thomas Frank, Vitor Pereira and Robbie Keane.

Next games: Fulham (A), Carabao Cup, Wednesday 28 October. Tottenham (A), Saturday 31 October. Liverpool (H), Sunday 8 November.

Frank Lampard – Coventry City

Record: Six defeats in eight league games, 19th in the table

Lampard was not even among the frontrunners a week ago, but two straight defeats have changed the mood. A 3-1 loss at Tottenham was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Fulham on Saturday, when Oscar Bobb scored the only goal. That left Coventry with six points from eight games and back in the bottom three.

Coventry have also lost three of their four home games at the Coventry Building Society Arena. That is a worry for a side whose only wins came against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, both at home, before the international break.

Lampard does have credit in the bank. He won the Championship with 95 points last season and signed a new contract until 2029 in the summer. He is also missing key players: striker Haji Wright is not due back until November, and defender Bobby Thomas was forced off against Fulham.

Next game: Sunderland, Saturday 31 October

Who else is in the Premier League sack race?

Regis Le Bris (Sunderland): Sunderland are bottom and six games without a win after Sunday’s goalless draw with Leeds. Le Bris admitted it is “so hard to win games”, and pundits have pointed to the strain of Sunderland’s European schedule. The trip to Coventry makes Saturday a genuine six-pointer.

Alvaro Arbeloa (Fulham): Arbeloa was briefly favourite earlier this month, when Fulham were bottom without a league win. Back-to-back victories over Hull and Coventry have lifted them to 12th and eased the pressure.

Oliver Glasner (Nottingham Forest): Forest are near the bottom despite creating plenty of chances. According to Opta, no side has underperformed their expected goals more this season. Glasner insists they are on the right track.

Next Premier League manager sacked odds

Manager	Club	Odds
Michael Carrick	Manchester United	1/5
Pierre Sage	Crystal Palace	4/1
Frank Lampard	Coventry City	20/1

Odds via bookies.com, correct at the time of writing on 26 October and subject to change. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.

When could a decision come?

Several reports suggest United and Palace had been planning to judge their managers by the November international break. After this weekend’s results, that timeline may have shortened. Keep track of every result in our Premier League table, and read our Premier League winners and losers from the weekend.