PREMIER LEAGUE SACK RACE: Every manager rated and slated as our reporters from up and down the country run the rule over their clubs' bosses

Congratulations to managers across the Premier League. You have all safely negotiated the first five games of the season without being sacked. But some of you shouldn't be sitting too comfortably.

Roberto De Zerbi has endured an awful start to the campaign, picking up just a couple of points and sitting rock-bottom of the top flight with Tottenham.

Alvaro Arbeloa is already feeling the heat at Fulham and Pierre Sage has had an underwhelming start to life in the dugout at Selhurst Park.

But Enzo Maresca has hit the ground running at Manchester City and David Moyes has enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign at Everton.

Here, Mirror Football has asked our reporters from up and down the country to rate and slate their clubs' managers and their starts to the season.

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By Simon Bajkowski

Nobody is perfect and City’s performances have shown plenty of room for improvement, the results have been flawless - and better than Arsenal and everyone else.

It has been an ensemble work so far, with Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki and others all contributing to help Erling Haaland, who has started like he wants to win another Golden Boot. New signings Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye are already showing why City spent big sums on them.

And as if all that wasn’t enough to make the fans happy, Maresca masterminded one of their best derby wins at Old Trafford to spark new songs about City winning with 10 men.

Rating: 9/10

By Tom Canton

Mikel Arteta is set to sign a new contract at Arsenal, which is wholly deserved after winning the club their first Premier League title in 22 years. And his first title defence has started off well, winning the FA Community Shield and six of his first seven games of the new season across all competitions.

The defeat to Brighton has wobbled the cart somewhat, but there is a growing sense that this was more of a one-off blip than something which indicates a greater issue. There are elements of Arteta’s management which still remain under scrutiny, however.

With a deeper squad than ever before, how he rotates throughout the season will be under review, and after major changes behind the scenes to the medical department, player injuries will be yet another area of focus. But so far, all remains rosy in North London with an eagerness to get back to action after this lengthy international break.

Rating: 8/10

By Felix Keith

Adding European football to the equation appeared to be a tricky task for Hurzeler - and that still might prove to be the case - but so far the German is managing things beautifully. The 3-0 win over the defending champions before the international break was awe-inspiring and displayed everything the Seagulls have become known for under Hurzeler.

The way Brighton press as a unit is a credit to their manager, who has never shied away from his high risk, high reward tactical approach. Having battered Coventry 5-0, Brighton are the top scorers in the Premier League and are sitting pretty.

With Conference League fixtures just around the corner in October, the real test awaits. For now, the data-focused Brighton hierarchy could hardly be happier with their boss.

By Jake Murtagh

The Brentford boss has enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season with the Bees flying high in fourth. That included convincing London derby wins over Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as hard-fought draws with the Leeds, Sunderland and Bournemouth.

The Irishman showed his ruthless streak in the home draw with the Black Cats. Trailing 1-0, he made a triple half-time change, which included hooking record signing Mamadou Sangare. The move paid off as his side went on to claim what seemed an unlikely point at the interval.

Andrews has built on the foundations laid by Thomas Frank and taken the west London club to the next level. The sky is the limit.

By Isaac Johnson

Daniel Farke has never been in a stronger position as Leeds United manager. Nine points from an unbeaten first five games is beyond what fans expected but it is also what Leeds thoroughly deserve.

Farke has stuck to his back-three system but has not been afraid to adapt it in-game, sometimes several times. The new signings have bedded in well too. He could be a little more proactive at times but that is the only gripe.

The big question looming over Farke is his contract; he is in the final year of his deal and a renewal has not yet been signed. Talks with the board have been ongoing since the summer and there is hope that a deal can be done.

Club chiefs say the delay is merely due to the absence of a need to rush negotiations. Clearly though, the longer talks go on, the more risky it is for Farke, should he go on a poor run. But, right now, there is little sign that a drab spell is around the corner.

By Ian Doyle

There's absolutely zero pressure on Andoni Iraola following his appointment as Liverpool boss.

And having already registered wins in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup, it's now almost certain he'll be allowed to crack on without much fuss with the job of getting the Reds a bit nearer to where they were just 18 months ago as dominant title winners.

The football hasn't always been easy on the eye, but then it was never going to be with so many changes on and off the field. That Liverpool are unbeaten is solid enough given the fixture list was reasonably kind for the opening month or so. It becomes a lot more tricky in the next batch of games, however.

We will know a lot more about where Liverpool really stand once the next international break comes around.

Rating: 7/10

By Chris Beesley

With nine top-eight finishes in his first spell, including the club’s highest Premier League position of fourth, David Moyes is arguably the ONLY man to manage Everton with any degree of relative long-term success in the modern era.

So, having successfully guided the Blues through their historic and emotional move from Goodison Park to Hill Dickinson Stadium, what the Glaswegian gaffer and Everton’s loyal but long-suffering supporters didn’t need from absentee owner Dan Friedkin was the chaotic and shambolic end to the summer transfer window.

Moyes was told the £35million ordered compensation payment to Burnley in June wouldn’t cut into his budget and on the eve of the new season, chief executive Angus Kinnear declared: “This window again, I think we will spend more than most of our competitors, the owners are very keen to back us.”

Yet, after a botched attempt to flog teenager Harrison Armstrong – the only Scouser in the squad – to Nottingham Forest, which was only abandoned when fans threatened to riot, Everton pocketed over £100million on deadline day with their most creative talent Iliman Ndiaye, last season’s top scorer Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson all sold, plus Adam Aznou loaned out.

Following the late collapse of the purchase of USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun from Monaco, Moyes was left with just 18 outfield players in a squad that contains a single striker, left-back and right-back. Yet after seven matches in all competitions so far this term, miraculously the Blues remain unbeaten.

Rating: 10/10

By Barry Cooper

In reality, Hull couldn't have asked for much more in the opening five games of the Premier League season.

Wins over Manchester United and Coventry gave City the perfect start, backed up by a creditable home draw with Aston Villa and a 2-2 draw at Chelsea, having led and deserved more.

Their first loss at Newcastle was largely down to a chaotic opening seven minutes where they found themselves 2-0 down. A dominant second-half performance threatened to see them get something, but they fell just short.

To have eight points from their first five, given the level of opposition, is a huge credit to the way Sergej Jakirovic has prepared his squad, all while having 17 new players arrive at various points across the summer and yet more injury strife.

Jakirovic, as expected, has taken to life in the Premier League like the proverbial duck to water, and the top flight, I'm sure, is enjoying having him around. He and Hull are a breath of fresh air.

Given his remit at the start of last season was to keep City in the Championship, something he dramatically failed in, doing similar in the Premier League this term will be his, and the Tigers', main focus.

But given their impressive start and their approach, perhaps they can look a little more optimistically at life back at the top table of English football, rather than simply finishing 17th.

City's fans worship Jakirovic, and even if they lose the five games back after the break, those supporters will remain right behind him because he's earned their trust, respect, and love for the way he's delivered so far.

You'd have to say, for a newly-promoted club that came up through the play-offs, it has to be a nine out of 10 for the start. Had they got something on Tyneside, that would have unquestionably been a 10.

By Lee Ryder

The German head coach arrived as a relative unknown to Newcastle fans when appointed on August 5 after the shock departure of Eddie Howe.

But he did not take long to win the Toon Army over as the Magpies showed fighting spirit from the word go and came within seconds of beating Liverpool on his managerial debut.

That was followed up with a 2-0 win at Spurs while Bournemouth were denied a win in a battling 2-2 draw on Tyneside.

The only real blip in the Premier League has been the 4-1 loss at Leeds but Newcastle showed great character to bounce back and end Hull City's unbeaten run.

With a mix of rejuvenated players showing good form that Jaissle inherited, such as Joe Willock and Lewis Hall, new signings such as Sean Steur, Lukas Hornicek and Nico Gonzalez have all delivered in a solid start with eight points taking Newcastle to ninth.

Throw in the fact Newcastle are 90 minutes away from the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a winnable tie away to Everton to come next month, this has been a positive start for the former Hoffenheim defender.

By Bobby Vincent

It was almost the perfect start for Xabi Alonso at Chelsea. The feel-good factor has been back ever since his appointment and the start to the campaign was electric in an attacking sense, but there was always a sense the performances were not sustainable.

And so that has proved. In the last three Premier League games, Chelsea's defence and midfield have been poor. The difference this time, however, is that the attack hasn't been there to bail them out.

There's a lot for Alonso to do; he needs to try and somehow find a balanced way of playing with his 3-4-3 system. A mixed start, with signs of encouragement but equally areas of concern.

Rating: 6/10

By Sam Meade

Given they went down with a whimper the last time they were in the Premier League, Ipswich can't be anything but happy with two wins from their five games to start the season, which has them in mid-table. O'Neil is already halfway to the four wins the Tractor Boys amassed back in 2024/25.

The former Bournemouth and Wolves boss has experience of scrapping down at the bottom and has come out on the right end of those battles previously. His principles as a manager seem to lend themselves to what Ipswich are looking to achieve and, bar their loss at Old Trafford, they've not been disgraced in any game thus far.

Even in that defeat there were enough positives to hold on to and this Ipswich team look far more equipped to stay in the top flight. Their manager has to take a good chunk of credit for that.

By Tyrone Marshall

Life as a Premier League manager looked like a lark for Michael Carrick last season, but now that he has the Old Trafford gig permanently, he has found life much tougher in the hot seat.

United’s start to the season has been disastrous and five points from five Premier League games, four of them very winnable, has piled the pressure on. He is safe for now, but these things have a habit of escalating quickly at United.

If Champions League qualification starts to drift away, then Sir Jim Ratcliffe will begin to get an itchy trigger finger. Carrick needs to move United up the table quickly but an attempt to build a controlled, possession-based team in an era of physicality and duels has people questioning his judgment.

Rating: 4/10

By Sarah Clapson

It was always going to take time for Oliver Glasner to get Forest where he wants them to be, and so far it has been very clear this is a team in transition. The start to the season has been mixed, to say the least.

Fans have started to debate whether Glasner’s preferred formation is really the best one for this squad, particularly at home as Forest’s miserable City Ground record continued against Coventry City. But the vast majority of supporters would agree with Glasner that stability is what the club desperately needs this season.

Glasner has had tough starts at previous clubs so this is not new territory for him. Patience is going to be key. Forest certainly have the potential to be a team that improves as the campaign goes on.

By Matty Hewitt

Sunderland may be hovering just a point above the relegation zone after their first five fixtures, but there's a real feel-good factor around the Stadium of Light. Regis Le Bris has the full backing of both the club hierarchy and the fanbase after securing Europa League football last season.

The Wearsiders defeated AZ Alkmaar in the opening fixture of that competition, a game sandwiched between matches against Arsenal and Manchester City. The Black Cats pushed both Premier League heavyweights to their very limits, but came away with zero points.

Defeat to Ipswich Town is the only real blemish on their start to the campaign, but the underlying statistics since then have been really impressive and they should see an upturn in points soon.

By Matt Maltby

It's been a miserable start to life in south London for Pierre Sage.

Replacing Oliver Glasner was never going to be an easy task and there will understandably be an adjustment period after another summer of transfer chaos that saw defence stalwarts Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix both leave.

Palace added numbers to their squad in time for their Europa League campaign, learning from their mistakes in previous summers, but Sage's side have disappointed.

Three defeats in their opening five games leaves them just above the relegation zone but, more worryingly, Sage appears to lack the charisma and tactical nous to get the best out of this squad - something Glasner was able to do.

Performances have been poor and he's already publicly called out players like Jaydee Canvot. That's not the way to keep the dressing room on side. I'd be surprised if he makes it to Christmas.

Rating: 3/10

By John Townley

Aston Villa had a slow start to the season, which should have been expected considering Unai Emery lost more than half of the starting XI that played against Freiburg in the Europa League final, while also having to contend with a number of injuries.

Structure is king for Emery, so he was never going to throw new signings straight into the team. Even the new No. 1, Zion Suzuki, was on the bench for the opener against Brighton.

Villa haven’t had squads as deep as some of their rivals over the last four years, yet they have still collected the fourth-most points in that time. Emery’s way has been proven time and time again.

With new signings comes a degree of uncertainty, especially as Villa have dramatically reduced the average age of their squad.

However, their ceiling is also much higher with the likes of Brian Majdo, Johan Manzambi and Ibrahaim Mbaye among the other younger talents.

Emery is a Villa legend, one of the best managers in their history and will be given all the time he needs to get this new-look team clicking.

By Nathan Ridley

Of all the new managers entering the Premier League this season, arguably none have a tougher act to follow than Marco Rose. Although the German got Bournemouth's Europa League campaign off to a dream start, they can't buy a win domestically.

If history tells us anything about European debutants, the Cherries' first Sunday-after-Thursday fixture is a sign of things to come. Rose's side started strong against Liverpool before tiring in the second half and suffering a 1-0 defeat.

It doesn't get easier for Bournemouth after the international break, playing nine games in 28 days against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa and AC Milan. Rose will do well to survive until the next one in November.

Rating 5/10

By Andy Turner

Frank Lampard has had one of the toughest starts to life back in the Premier League with away trips to Arsenal and Man City while also hosting in-form Brighton at the CBS Arena where the Sky Blues suffered a mentally crushing 1-0 smash and grab defeat to fellow survival rivals, Hull.

While no-one expected anything at the Etihad, Coventry matched City, creating big goal scoring opportunities that were denied by the brilliant Gianluigi Donnarumma, while limiting the home side to just a few chances in a narrow 1-0 defeat that was packed with encouraging signs.

The 5-0 defeat by Albion was a blow, not least for the manner of the first three goals which were down to individual defensive errors but Lampard got back on the training ground and came up with a game plan that worked a treat at Forest where the club got their first goal and first three points on the board with a really gutsy performance full of character.

There were a few rumblings on social media about pressure on Lampard ahead of the first win – having lost the opening four games with no goals scored – but the majority of Sky Blues fans are firmly behind the man who has plenty of credit in the bank after taking their club back to the top flight after a 25 year absence, and understand the task in hand which has been made all the more difficult due to a lot of late business in the transfer window and players still settling and integrating with the core group who got them promoted.

By Jake Polden

Replacing Marco Silva was always going to be a tough ask. The now Benfica boss kept a very steady ship at Craven Cottage and, when required, dragged quality out of a largely average squad.

Alvaro Arbeloa arrived to take his seat in the dugout with an optimistic spring in his step - well, how hard can managing little old Fulham be after taking the reins at Real Madrid? Especially when you've been allowed to bring half the club's academy with you.

But he's quickly realised that managing a modest team in the Premier League is a different kettle of fish and attempting to out-attack the best sides in the division - as he did against Chelsea on the opening day of the season - just isn't going to cut it.

Fulham are a place off rock bottom, thanks only to goal difference. But it isn't all doom and gloom. It's important to consider that the Whites have played Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in their opening five fixtures, picking up two points.

Arbeloa's side have also shown signs of improvement - Fulham conceded only once against United and kept a clean sheet in the draw with Liverpool after surrendering three against Chelsea, the first in just 31 seconds.

Arbeloa has shuffled his pack, too. He experimented with Alex Iwobi in a deeper role, largely to accommodate his pal Cesar Palacios, but this hasn't worked out well for anyone.

He now appears confident that summer signing Shea Charles can do the job he was brought in to do alongside Sander Berge, creating more protection in front of that shaky back four. There's a sense among fans that it's a matter of time before things start clicking.

And that needs to happen immediately after this international break if Arbeloa is to keep his job. Fulham play newly promoted Ipswich, and anything short of three points isn't going to cut the mustard.

You can make all the excuses in the world for dropping points against the Big Six, but if you can't beat those around you, then where do you pick up points?

Rating 3/10

By Ryan Taylor

I have gone with a two because he has two points on the board but Tottenham's start has been nothing short of disastrous.

On the back of a huge spending spree, it was imperative they got off to a good start and the same old problems, including their wretched home record, have carried over into a fresh season.

It's a worry but it's still too early to suggest De Zerbi deserves the boot, though results must improve quickly.

Rating: 2/10