We may only be six games into the Premier League season, but two managers appear to be clinging on to their jobs.
Last season, amidst a falling out with his bosses, Nuno Espirito Santo was shown the door at the City Ground by 9th September, with Erik ten Hag the first out the season before.
Another Manchester United head coach could be the first casualty of the 2026/27 Premier League season in Michael Carrick. The Red Devils have toiled through the season, winning just one game -- against newly promoted Ipswich Town.
We look at which manager might be first out of the door in the 2026/27 season.
Michael Carrick
In a bizarre turn of events, Michael Carrick might have had the pressure eased on him in the short term by Lisandro Martinez's blistering attack on Manchester United's technical director Jason Wilcox in the aftermath of their 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. Any change in the dugout the club were considering will now be scrutinised even further.
In the long term, however, United may well seek out another technical director, with which could come Carrick's demise.
Carrick isn't helped by the club's fixture list, which sees them travel to Leeds United on Sunday before a trip to Como in midweek, and further poor results could make the former United midfielder's position untenable.
Alvaro Arbeloa
Taking the reins from Marco Silva was never going to be easy, but the decision to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa was eye-catching. Arbeloa wasn't kept on following his spell in the Real Madrid dugout, and the move to Craven Cottage marked a significant change of scenery for the Spaniard.
While Arbeloa may have plenty of promise as a coach, if the club feel they're in any significant relegation danger, they may be prompted to pull the trigger.
Despite mixed performances that have brought about draws with Liverpool and Manchester United, the Cottagers remain winless through their first six games, and with newly promoted teams picking up points, failure to win in their next two games -- against Hull City and Coventry City -- may spell the end for Arbelola.
Pierre Sage
Like Arbeloa, Pierre Sage was taking over from a hugely popular and not to mention successful boss. Crystal Palace haven't been particularly smart in the transfer market in recent years and now must handle the stiffer test of Europa League football; a step up from last year's Conference League test.
Palace haven't had the most challenging fixture list to start the campaign but have lost at home to Ipswich and Manchester City and away to Everton. While the Eagles did record a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest, the nature of the performance was hardly inspiring, and as the fixture list gets busier, results may well turn.
Matthias Jaissle
Given the hectic summer on Tyneside, expectations were low for Newcastle, and despite a reasonable start in terms of results, the nature of the 4-1 defeat at Leeds United and Coventry City raise alarm.
Four points from their first two games at home to Liverpool and at Tottenham felt as good as Newcastle could have hoped for, but the underlying numbers make for grim reading. Newcastle have the second worse xGD in the Premier League, and if Matthias Jaissle can't sort a leaky defence, question may start being asked.
