Who could win the latest PL managers sack race?

The 2025/26 Premier League season has started on a splendid note with top-notch fixtures and many talking points after the massive transfer spend over the summer by the 20 clubs.

Liverpool have undoubtedly started the season exactly where they left off last season, with a spotless five wins out of five matches. Arsenal are the closest to them in the points table and are yet five points adrift. Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are next in the points tally with some impressive displays so far.

However, as we move away from the positives and glance at the other end of the spectrum, the situation is extremely bleak. Several teams are yet to hit the ground running and have massively underperformed since the 2025/26 season began with some teams already looking like they will be in a relegation fight.

If the results do not immediately improve for these lacklustre teams, there could be a string of changes that could follow, including a change in management and back room staff.

Nottingham Forest have not wasted any time after poor results and have replaced manager Nuno Espirito Santo with Ange Postecoglou. At Essential Football, we have put together a list of managers who are in the sack race and could be next receive their marching orders from their club.

Graham Potter leads the sack race

West Ham United have started the season on a poor note with only one victory and four defeats in their opening five exchanges. The Hammers have not just lost matches, but also shipped in a lot of goals, with thirteen already conceded. Graham Potter will have to turn things around quickly before it goes beyond his reach.

According to many bookmakers, Potter has a 1/3 chance of receiving his marching orders from the London Stadium side. The Hammers play against Everton and Arsenal in the English top flight in the coming weeks, two matches that could truly define Potter’s tenure in London.

Vitor Pereira signs new contract but is his job still at risk?

Wolverhampton Wanderers are placed right at the bottom of the Premier League points table with their back pushed firmly against the wall. The Wolves need to quickly turn things around before they start staring at a possible relegation race when the business end of the season approaches.  Vitor Pereira’s men are yet to register any points to their credit in the table, with only 3 goals scored and 12 conceded in five games.

Despite the string of poor results, Wolves are backing their tactician and recently rewarded him with a new contract. However, things could take a turn for the worse soon if the Portuguese manager is unable to churn out the positive results. According to many bookmakers, Pereira has been placed at 9/4 odds and is 2nd favourite to face the sack.

Ruben Amorim beats Chelsea but questions remain

Manchester United have endured an extremely difficult start to the season and are placed 11^th in the points table. The Red Devils are already 8 points adrift of Liverpool after just five matchdays. Ruben Amorim’s team did manage a victory against Chelsea this weekend, a small step towards better results.

The Portuguese manager will now need time to deliver consistent results to avoid his Old Trafford spell being potentially cut short. The football media is buzzing with speculation regarding the possible departure of the manager as they constantly report how his 3-4-3 formation is not working with the manager remaining adamant he won’t change. Many bookmakers have placed Ruben Amorim at 11/4 odds to be sacked at Old Trafford behind of other competitors in this sack race.

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With a competitive fixture list and limited time at their disposal, these managers need to massively change their team’s output. The next team that joins Nottingham Forest in changing managers likely won’t be too long in happening with Nuno who was one of the favourites managers in our preseason PL sack race post already losing his job.