The Premier League sack race is a competition no one frankly wants to win.
Xisco Munoz claimed last season’s dubious honor on October 3 – but Bournemouth boss Scott Parker managed to top that by a month and a half. Parker wasn’t even the favorite either, suggesting there could be plenty more managerial swaps before the World Cup even starts in November.
When it comes to bookmakers, we’re just getting started…
Odds on the Premier League sack race
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1. Brendan Rodgers (Leicester): 6/5 (opens in a new tab)
From being the role model for smaller teams around the world, Leicester City have strangely stagnated, failing to make a single signing in the summer transfer window. Brendan Rodgers has cut a rather frustrated figure on his sideline and hasn’t shown those pearly whites as much this season.
Losing Champions League football twice on the final day of the season now looks like the pinnacle for Rodgers. Last season was a crash on Earth – relative, really: Try telling Foxes fans that the eighth and a European semi-final would be a miss, in the days of Ligue 1 – but it looks like something will give way sooner rather than later between these two.
There is an argument that the Midlands outfit has gotten worse every season under Rodgers. It may be time…
2. Steven Gerrard (Aston Villa): 3/1 (opens in a new tab)
Steven Gerrard has arrived with all the promise of a former whirlwind superstar ready to turn a sleeping giant and have Aston Villa punch way above their weight once again. For a while, they looked like the sharp, muscular side Villans had been waiting for: Philippe Coutinho beat burgundy hearts again.
But it has been a difficult start to the 2022/23 season so far for Gerrard, after a dismal fall towards the end of last season. The Tyrone Mings debate overshadowed the start of it, while the departure of assistant Michael Beale to QPR deprived the Villa chief of his tactical right arm.
Has this job become too big for Gerrard? He’s long been seen as Jurgen Klopp’s ultimate replacement, but even those cries have died down – and Villa fans don’t seem so sure of their general anymore. Another few weeks without direction and the board could also turn.
3. Frank Lampard (Everton): 5/1 (opens in a new tab)
Frank Lampard arrived at Everton wanting to play the expansive, forefoot football that Rafa Benitez was never going to deliver. No, but seriously, he had to lower his ambitions.
Everton went three at the back, used long balls and had very little to invest this summer compared to Indian summers of investment in Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison. The former is long gone, the latter was whipped at Tottenham – and there doesn’t seem to be a constant reinvestment in the quality of the squad.
The Premier League is tougher than ever and if Lampard fails to get a tune from this team, he may be the one to pay. It will be difficult for any Everton manager at this time…
4. Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton): 6/1 (opens in a new tab)
Southampton have played massively this summer, going into full career mode. Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu and Armel Bella-Kotchap are the headliners of a transfer window in which the Saints have invested in wonderkids – and it’s an exciting time to be a fan.
But less exciting to be Ralph Hasenhuttl. If the Austrian does not merge these talents quickly, he will be under the control of the new owner, who may have a different view of him than the last tip. Ralph Rabbit Hutch was lucky not to have been sacked from two 9-0s and winless runs spanning literally months in the past: he may not be again.
The saints are in the same boat as so many others right now. Every point is valuable to Hasenhuttl.
5. Bruno Lage (Wolverhampton Wanderers): 1/20 (opens in a new tab)
The sense of well-being from this time last year is dissipating for Bruno Lage, who lacks the goodwill he accumulated during his first Molineux months. The Portuguese had a stellar start to his Wolves career but seems stuck in treacle now.
Lage wanted a smooth, flowing attack but was trapped into employing a back three like his predecessor, Nuno Espirito Santo, getting results and disappointing with a heavy style of play. Well, he took that step this time around, banishing captain Conor Coady for a true back-four and bringing in Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes to help him achieve his vision.
It’s falling into place…slowly. However, patience with Lage isn’t very long considering the aforementioned gloomy football.
