Premier League Sack Race: LiveScore Fans Say Forget Carrick & Lampard, De Zerbi should be the first manager sacked
LiveScore Features
We’re five games into the Premier League season, and there are familiar names at the top of the table. Manchester City lead the way having claimed 15 points so far, with defending champions Arsenal their closest competitor.
At the other end of the table, however, things aren’t looking great for Tottenham Hotspur. The north London side spent a fortune revamping the squad after back-to-back 17th place finishes. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio were the big-money captures, and yet they head into the international break bottom of the table.
Spurs are one of three teams yet to win a league match this season and have scored just twice, both of which came in a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend. Spurs showed positive signs in the eventual loss, but football is a results business and the latest doesn't reflect kindly on Roberto De Zerbi.
With the 2025 Europa League winners now footing the table, LiveScore users feel that De Zerbi will be the first Premier League manager sacked this season. Of the 246.2k people that voted, 39% are backing the Italian to be shown the door.
Michael Carrick (24%) and Frank Lampard (13%) of Manchester United and Coventry City, respectively, make up the top three.
Which Premier League Manager Will Be Sacked First | Vote Result |
|---|---|
Roberto De Zerbi | 39% |
Michael Carrick | 24% |
Frank Lampard | 13% |
Alvaro Arbeloa | 8% |
Pierre Sage | 5% |
Unai Emery | 4% |
Oliver Glasner | 4% |
David Moyes | 3% |
What Spurs need, though, is a period of stability. After last season’s managerial upheaval, which ultimately culminated in De Zerbi guiding the club to safety despite the best efforts of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, the ship needs to be steadied. The club can’t continue to lurch from manager to manager hoping to stumble upon the right solution.
Solid underlying attacking numbers
The results aren’t great at the moment, but relieving De Zerbi of his duties would only exacerbate the issues currently engulfing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. After all, the underlying numbers are good enough to eventually pull away from danger. Spurs rank third for possession (60.7%) in the division.
14.2 shots per game ranks ninth, and is a solid enough return. There is work to be done in terms of creativity, with 9.6 chances created per game currently 13th. Then again, league leaders City are only creating 10 chances per game.
De Zerbi’s side rank top for completed take ons per game (11.8). The widemen are getting the better of markers. A little more composure, a little more good fortune, and the goals will come. A 2.8% conversion rate is the second worst in the division. They’ll naturally start to climb away from danger once the team clicks.
The wingers are dominating the league for completed take ons. Four of the top eight for this metric ply their trade for Spurs. It’s led by Savio (13). Omar Marmoush has completed 12. Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus are sat on 10 apiece.
Defensive and mentality problems
The issues stem from silly defensive mistakes that has seen them ship an average of 15.2 shots per game, the seventh most. Seven errors leading to an opposition shots ranks fourth. Eradicate these gaffes, and they’ll tighten up. We’ve seen how they can lock things down in defence. Clean sheets against Nottingham Forest and Everton are a case in point.
However, the negative mentality that has engulfed the club in recent seasons is proving far easier said than done to shift. Since November 2024, Spurs have conceded first in 48 competitive matches. They’ve lost 37 of those and drawn the other 11. As soon as they concede, heads drop. It’s now up to De Zerbi to rectify these mental issues, and he now has a three-week international break to work on this problem.
So, no, things are not quite bright, they aren’t lilywhite, in N17 at present. Successive 17th-place finishes will do that to any team.
Sacking De Zerbi now, though, is not the answer. Spurs need a manager to steer them through the storm. Changing now, and a resulting change in direction, would be the wrong move to make. Whether the decision makers at the club see differently remains to be seen but it’s clear that Spurs must endure short-term pain for long-term gain.
Check LiveScore throughout the 2026/27 season for more Have Your Say polls!
