Pep Guardiola’s status as the best manager in world football was solidified after Manchester City’s run to the treble last season, and he is determined to deliver a fourth successive Premier League title in 2023-24. City are struggling to reach the same level this time around, though, with a potential five-horse title race currently on the cards as the established order continues to shift in surprising ways.
It could go down to the wire this season unless Guardiola can find a new winning formula, and there might even be a surprise name on the trophy by the time it’s all over. Jurgen Klopp appears to have made Liverpool an elite force again, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are pushing to go one better than last season, and Aston Villa have emerged as genuine dark horses under Unai Emery.
Villa are proving to be a match for anyone right now, while Tottenham are also in the frame as Ange Postecoglou continues to play arguably the most attractive brand of football in Europe. The battle for Champions League qualification is already wide open, too, mainly due to the shocking decline of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United and Chelsea’s ongoing struggles for consistency.
Newly-promoted clubs Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United are finding it difficult to put together any sort of positive run, with Everton and Nottingham Forest also currently being dragged into the relegation dogfight – which could prove to be every bit as fascinating as the tussle for the title.
NEWSEMBASSY has rated every head coach’s performance so far this season to figure out who should be the frontrunner for the Manager of the Season award – and who could be facing the sack in the near future…
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20: Erik ten Hag (2/10) ⬇
Manchester United were supposed to be title contenders this season, as Ten Hag followed up a third-place finish in his debut season by signing Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon – while also bringing veteran defender Jonny Evans back to the club on a free transfer.
The new additions haven’t taken the Red Devils to the next level, though, and pre-existing stars such as Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have allowed their standards to slip. United have endured their worst start to a season since 1962, losing seven of their 16 league fixtures, including humiliating home defeats against Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Bournemouth.
United were booed off after the 3-0 drubbing against the Cherries, and Ten Hag looked like a broken man as he stood still on the touchline taking it all in. His team have no clear identity or backbone, with every small step forward quickly followed by two steps back.
Ten Hag is likely to be granted a stay of execution under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the man behind the INEOS Group that is set to purchase a minority stake in the club, but the job feels too big for him, and it’s difficult to see how he can turn things around amid a reported dressing room revolt.
19. Vincent Kompany (2/10) ↔️
Guardiola’s disciple proved his coaching chops in an impressive debut season at Burnley, who stormed to the 2022-23 Championship title with a fluid, possession-based style – completely opposite to the approach used by Sean Dyche during his reign at Turf Moor.
Kompany has single-handedly changed the way Burnley are perceived by neutrals, but they are no longer dominating games in the same way. The Clarets are only above rock-bottom Sheffield United on goal difference, and supporters have had very little to cheer about in the final third of the pitch.
A 5-0 rout of the Blades briefly lifted the gloom, only for a subsequent defeat at Wolves to bring them crashing back down to earth, with their fixtures only set to get tougher over the festive period. Burnley already look doomed for the drop, and Kompany must secretly be regretting his decision to ignore summer interest from Tottenham and sign a new contract – which could now be torn up early.
18. Mauricio Pochettino (3/10) ⬇
Chelsea have spent over £1 billion ($1.2m) on new players under the Todd Boehly-led ownership regime, but they are currently languishing down in 12th in the Premier League table, having won just five games under new manager Pochettino.
The Argentine was given the freedom to shape the squad in his own image after taking over at Stamford Bridge in June, but new additions such as Nicolas Jackson and British-record signing Moises Caicedo have failed to hit the ground running. Chelsea are creating plenty of chances under Pochettino, but they don’t take enough of them, and he has yet to figure out his best starting XI.
Bad luck with injuries hasn’t helped, but it’s an excuse that doesn’t hold much weight for the Blues because of the strength in depth they possess. Pochettino’s men have only won one of their last five, with a dismal 2-0 defeat at Everton marking their latest setback, and there are few signs that a positive run is on horizon.
Pochettino has stressed that he’s at the start of a long-term project, but Chelsea managers don’t tend to last very long when the results are this bad. The former Tottenham boss has already made a public plea for more signings, but he needs to be getting far more out of the squad he already has at his disposal.
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17. Steve Cooper (3/10) ⬇
This time last season, Cooper was fighting for his job at Nottingham Forest, but he kept them in the top-flight, and the club’s decision to stick with the no-nonsense Welshman looked to have reaped dividends after a brilliant 2-0 win against Aston Villa on November 5.
Forest cruised to victory against the high-flying Villans as Cooper was able to welcome star striker Taiwo Awoniyi back into his starting XI after injury, but they failed to use the result as a springboard to better things. Disappointing losses against West Ham, Brighton and Everton followed, before a 5-0 humiliation away at Fulham, which appeared to leave Cooper on the brink.
Supporters were still singing the manager’s name by the end of the game at Craven Cottage, and he then managed to halt the slide with a 1-1 draw at Wolves on Saturday. But the patience of Forest’s owners will run out if they get pulled into the relegation places, with Cooper slowly using up the remaining credit he has left in the bank.
16. Roy Hodgson (4/10) ⬇
Hodgson has proven that age is just a number since returning to Palace, who pulled off an impressive relegation escape in 2022-23 thanks to his know-how. He was handed a new permanent contract in the summer, and the Eagles started the new season well, with their most notable victory coming in the form of a 1-0 triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 30.
However, Palace have only won one game since then, and their lack of potency in front of goal is becoming a major issue. Only Sheffield United have a worse attacking record, with the injury-enforced absence of star wingers Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze proving costly.
Hodgson appears to be back in good health after missing Palace’s clash with Aston Villa on September 16 due to illness, but his pragmatic approach is holding the team back at the moment. Not even an encouraging performance in a narrow defeat to Liverpool last time out could appease supporters, who have every right to be demanding more from a talented squad that really should be pushing for a top-10 finish.
15. Rob Edwards (4/10) ⬆️
Luton Town’s rise from the National League to the English top-flight has been nothing short of a miracle. Edwards deserves plenty of credit for getting them to the promised land, too, having steadied the ship following Nathan Jones’ exit in the early months of the 2022-23 campaign.
But the Hatters’ chances of staying in the Premier League were essentially written off by all rival fans and pundits before a ball was even kicked this season. They are still operating on a shoe-string budget, and a large chunk of their funds had to be spent on bringing Kenilworth Road up to an acceptable standard.
It’s no surprise that Edwards’ side are down in 18th, with only two wins collected from their opening 11 games. Luton haven’t been clinical enough and basic errors have proved costly at the other end of the pitch. Edwards has, however, instilled a fierce fighting spirit in the group, which may just be enough for them to defy the naysayers once again.
The Hatters are proving to be very formidable on home turf, having drawn with Liverpool and pushed Arsenal and Man City all the way before ultimately slipping to defeat. The general consensus is that Edwards’ men have been unlucky so far, and they are earning plenty of admirers with their brave style of play.
14. Chris Wilder (5/10) 🌟
Paul Heckingbottom worked wonders to guide Sheffield United to a second-placed finish in the Championship last season, and did his best to make the squad Premier League-ready by signing 10 new players in the summer transfer window.
Unfortunately, those additions didn’t make an immediate impact, with the Blades losing 11 of their opening 14 games, including the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Burnley. That result proved to be the last straw for the board, who sacked Heckingbottom before re-appointing Chris Wilder.
The popular Englishman worked wonders in his first spell at Bramall Lane, and has made a strong start since his homecoming. Sheffield United produced a much-improved display in a 2-0 loss to Liverpool before beating Brentford 1-0 thanks to a superb individual goal from James McAtee, which took them to within five points of 17th place.
The Blades still have by far the worst goal difference in the division and the weakest squad on paper, but Wilder knows exactly how to get wins in the Premier League. His dogged approach will at least give the Yorkshire-based club a chance of survival, which looked an impossibility under Heckingbottom.
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13. Thomas Frank (5/10) ⬇
Brentford fans would have been forgiven for fearing the worst this season. Ivan Toney’s eight-month ban for breaching betting rules left Frank without his star striker, and he will not be allowed to play again until mid-January.
There is also chance Toney could leave the club at that point, with Chelsea and Arsenal both thought to be eager to secure his services, and the Bees are light on attacking options in his absence. Bryan Mbeumo has done his best to fill the void, though, recording seven goals goals and three assists in 15 appearances, but Brentford have found consistency elusive.
After the dismal loss at Sheffield United last weekend, Frank is under real pressure for perhaps the first time in his tenure with the Bees. He turned the team into a well-oiled machine after their promotion to the Premier League, but there is now a real danger they could get dragged towards the drop zone, which could lead to a change being made in the dugout.
12. David Moyes (5/10) ↔️
West Ham lifted their first trophy in over 40 years after winning the 2022-23 Europa Conference League final, which papered over the cracks of a dismal Premier League campaign. Moyes oversaw some smart summer business after losing Declan Rice to Arsenal, though, bringing in James Ward-Prowse, Mohammad Kudus and Edson Alvarez – all of whom have made an immediate impact at the London Stadium.
The Hammers picked up 10 points from their first four games this term, which briefly led to talk of a potential Champions League charge. But without Rice pulling the strings in midfield, Moyes’ side soon fell into a downward spiral, with only one win posted in their next seven matches.
A thrilling London derby win away at Tottenham on December 7 briefly lifted the fans, but West Ham were then battered by 5-0 by Fulham after a shocking display at Craven Cottage. Moyes has done a fine job since returning to the London Stadium, but doesn’t seem to have the tools to take them to the next level, and his job will inevitably come under threat if the Hammers slip into the bottom half of the table.
11. Gary O’Neil (6/10) ↔️
O’Neil was given the chance to return to the Premier League at Wolves after Julen Lopetegui walked away from his post at Molineux three days before the start of the new season. The Spaniard was frustrated over a lack of transfer activity, with O’Neil inheriting a depleted, confidence-stricken squad.
However, though a combination of high-intensity football and shrewd man-management, the 40-year-old has lifted the team to ensure they remain a competitive Premier League force. Wolves pulled off the shock of the season so far by ending City’s unbeaten start to the campaign and also battled to a dramatic 2-1 win against Tottenham, with O’Neil’s men proving to be a handful for any opposition.
Wolves would be far higher in the table than 13th had it not been for a host of baffling VAR calls, the latest of which cost them a point away at Fulham as match officials admitted to getting three key decisions wrong. Still, O’Neil has turned Wolves into an exciting, counter-attacking outfit, and they should have more than enough to stay clear of the relegation places.
10. Eddie Howe (6/10) ⬇
Newcastle opened the new season with a thumping 5-1 win over Aston Villa that sent shockwaves through the rest of the division – but it proved to be a false dawn. Howe’s side lost their next three matches against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, shipping six goals along the way.
Howe’s transition-focused side are still devastating in full flow, and recent home wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United showed they can mix it with anyone at St James’ Park. Unfortunately, Newcastle’s away form is letting them down, as they’ve managed just one win through their opening eight games on the road.
Champions League duties also appear to have hampered the Magpies, with an injury crisis forcing Howe to tweak his line-up constantly. Newcastle dropped to seventh after heavy defeats at Everton and Tottenham, and they now sit seven points outside the top-four, which should be a real concern for Howe.
The manager may need to spend big in January to get his team back on track, but is has been reported that the club’s Saudi-backed owners are already considering a move for ex-Chelsea and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho. Howe deserves more time to steady the ship, but his Newcastle side can’t afford any more slip-ups heading into the New Year.
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9. Marco Silva (6/10) ⬆️
Fulham were tipped for a swift decline after the summer exit of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who could not be swayed from accepting a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia – as so many others did in the summer window. Silva had to show a great deal of tactical nous to get the club through the first few months of the season as his side struggled to fill that void in the final third, and has gradually transformed the Cottagers into an even better team.
Silva’s men have won three of their last four games, including back-to-back 5-0 victories against Nottingham Forest and West Ham, which has put them within five points of the top seven. Summer signing Raul Jimenez has finally rediscovered his best form after making a full recovery from a career-threatening head injury, while the likes of Carlos Vinicius, Alex Iwobi and Harry Wilson are starting to deliver on a consistent basis.
Even veteran midfielder Willian is winding back the clock, with Fulham no longer missing Mitrovic and suddenly looking like one of the strongest sides in the league. Silva demands his team get on the front foot with their pressing and places a focus on wing-based attacks, which is reaping reward. The Portuguese tactician could take the club back into Europe if they continue to progress at such a rapid rate.
8. Sean Dyche (6/10) ⬆️
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that wasn’t happy for Dyche when he was given the top job at Everton. He exceeded expectations season after season during his time at Burnley, and fully deserved a chance at a bigger club.
The 52-year-old also did extremely well to keep the Toffees up after succeeding Frank Lampard in January, and managed to bring in five new players in the summer – including highly-rated Portuguese striker Beto. Optimism soon gave way to despair, though, as Everton won just one of their opening seven games – and the knives were out for Dyche after a 2-1 home loss against Luton on September 30.
Everton turned the tide with wins over Bournemouth, West Ham and Crystal Palace, but the club was then hit with a 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s financial fair play rules. Dyche’s side dropped to joint-bottom on just four points as a result, and looked like odds-on favourites for relegation once again.
However, there are few managers who thrive in the face of adversity quite like Dyche, who has since overseen three wins out of four, including the 2-0 humbling of Chelsea on Sunday, which took Everton four points clear of the drop zone. The Toffees may be struggling behind the scenes, but they are in good hands on the pitch, and Dyche will still fancy his chances of delivering a top-10 finish.
7. Andoni Iraola (7/10) ⬆️
Gary O’Neil made a strong case for Premier League Manager of the Season in 2022-23, steering Bournemouth to safety after replacing Scott Parker on an interim basis. The Cherries harshly let him go when they saw an opportunity to land Iraola, though, handing the Spaniard a two-year deal following his departure from Rayo Vallecano.
Iraola is a progressive, forward-thinking manager with plenty of ambition, but it has taken time for him to get his unique tactical blueprint across to his new squad. The new Bournemouth boss opened his reign with seven defeats out of 11 games, including a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
Speculation over Iraola’s position then started to swirl, but he stuck to his principles admirably, and the Cherries began a surprise ascent up the table. Tyler Adams – who joined the Cherries in a £23 million ($28m) summer move from Leeds – is not expected back until January after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury, but English stalwart Lewis Cook has stepped up to fill the defensive midfield role that was initially touted for the USMNT star.
Ryan Christie, Marcus Tavernier, Marcos Senesi and former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke have also been standout players for Bournemouth, who moved up to 14th in the table after their well-deserved victory at Manchester United. The appointment of Iraola is now looking like a masterstroke, as he’s recorded four wins from his last five games on the touchline, and it will be fascinating to see how far the Cherries can go under his assured stewardship.
6. Roberto De Zerbi (7/10) ⬇
Brighton’s sixth-place finish in 2022-23 was well earned, and did not feel like an anomaly, but rather the beginning of something special. The Seagulls dominate games under De Zerbi, who aims to provoke the opposition into a press in order to open up space for quick, incisive build-up play.
Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister were central to that system, but Brighton reinvested the £150m ($182m) raised from their respective sales to get even stronger. New signings Carlos Baleba, James Milner, Joao Pedro and Mahmoud Dahoud have all settled in quickly, while household names such as Kaoru Mitoma, Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk have progressed to new heights.
Brighton are back in the Premier League’s top eight as a result, with statement victories picked up against Newcastle and Manchester United. The Seagulls have suffered damaging losses against West Ham, Aston Villa, Man City and Chelsea, though, with dips in form to be expected as De Zerbi’s side also juggle Europa League commitments.
De Zerbi never shifts from his core values, with Brighton still playing one of the most attractive brands of football in the division even when the wins are not coming in quite so frequently. A 1-1 draw at home to Burnley last time out marked their latest setback, but it’s safe to say the Seagulls will be in the mix for European qualification again come the business end of the campaign.
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5. Pep Guardiola (7/10) ⬇
Kompany, Arteta and De Zerbi are among the many managers that have attempted to adapt Guardiola’s own version of ‘total football’ over the years – but the City boss is still the master.
Yes, he has has had unlimited resources to build several different teams at the Etihad Stadium, but City are not the only club in the Premier League with that kind of financial muscle. Guardiola delivers success year in, year out, because of his meticulous planning and eye for talent, which is as sharp as ever.
No one would be surprised if City won a record-breaking fourth-straight Premier League crown, mainly because Guardiola is always able to adapt under pressure and when faced with setbacks – such as losing star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne to a long-term injury. The likes of Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez have stepped up in the Belgian’s absence, while summer signing Jeremy Doku has already established himself as the most exciting young winger in the Premier League.
But if City are to retain the title again, they will have to do it the hard way. The champions have only won once in their last five matches – an unconvincing 2-1 triumph at Luton – and have also seen star striker Erling Haaland enter the treatment room with a concerning foot injury.
The summer exit of Ilkay Gundogan is starting to look like a major oversight, with an over-reliance on Rodri leading to something of a midfield crisis, and opposing teams are no longer afraid of City. It would be foolish to write of Guardiola given his unrivalled genius, but even he has admitted his team are “struggling”, and there is now a real opportunity for their main rivals to take advantage.
4. Ange Postecoglou (7/10) ⬇
Tottenham endured a miserable few years after Pochettino’s exit in 2019, with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte all unable to change the mentality at a club that has accepted mediocrity for far too long.
Their defensive-minded tactics certainly didn’t help, but Spurs have been given a fresh lease of life under Postecoglou, who was drafted in from Celtic to succeed Conte in June. The Australian was charged with a lifting a team that slumped to eighth in the Premier League last season, and his task was made even tougher by the inevitable sale of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
But the new Tottenham boss signed the likes of James Maddison, Mickey van de Van and Guglielmo Vicario as he instantly set about overhauling the team – and implemented the same attacking style of play that delivered so much success at Celtic.
Postecoglou’s Spurs rose to the Premier League summit after 10 games as he broke the record for the best-ever start to a season for a new manager – with impressive wins over Manchester United and Liverpool recorded along the way. However, a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in a wild London derby clash on November 6 halted Tottenham’s momentum, and their misery was compounded by serious injuries suffered by Maddison and Van de Ven.
Tottenham would go on to endure a five-match winless run, with heart-pounding 3-3 draw against City the only bright spot, and a potential title charge faded into the distance. It is, however, too early to write Postecoglou’s swashbuckling team off completely, especially after their emphatic return to winning ways against Newcastle at the weekend.
There is no better team to watch in Europe right now than Spurs, and that’s all down to Postecoglou, who has given supporters reason to believe again. Tottenham must at least aim for the top four, and with key players set to return in January, there is every reason for optimism.
3. Mikel Arteta (8/10) ⬆️
Arteta has turned Arsenal into an elite football team again, there is no denying that. But it remains to be seen whether he can take that crucial next step, having seen his team capitulate down the finishing stretch in last season’s title race.
The Gunners can have no excuses if they fail again, having spent over £200m ($244m) on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber in the summer. Predictably, ex-Chelsea forward Havertz has yet to justify his hefty fee, and Arteta’s ruthless call to drop No.1 goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for Brentford loanee David Raya has also backfired.
Still, a return of 36 points from a possible 48 represents a decent start for Arsenal in 2023-24, and Rice has added a steely determination to the squad since his club-record move from West Ham. The Gunners have developed the useful habit of grinding out wins when below their best and never let their heads drop, which is testament to the belief Arteta has instilled in the group.
Arsenal could do with another central striker option in the January window, with current first choice No.9 Gabriel Jesus struggling to stay fit while publicly admitting that scoring is “not my strong point”. They were punished for missed chances in their loss to Villa last time out, and Arteta will have to find a solution if he is to bring the club’s 20-year wait for Premier League glory to an end.
2. Jurgen Klopp (8/10) ⬆
The 2022-23 season was a disaster for Liverpool, who went from City’s main challengers to also-rans almost overnight as they suffered a serious hangover from their unsuccessful quadruple chase in the previous campaign. Questions were rightly asked over Klopp’s position, but he responded by making some big changes. The German overhauled his ageing midfield with the signings of Alex Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, while cutting ties with long-term servants Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
Those additions have sparked a resurgence, as Liverpool have won 11 of their opening 16 games, including an impressive 2-1 victory at Newcastle that saw them play for over 60 minutes with 10 men. Klopp’s side are back on top of the Premier League, despite his complaints over regular 12:30 kick-offs following Europa League exertions, and they have the tools to stay there.
The German coach is getting the best out of his players again, and they are battling until the very last second of matches, with crucial late goals crashed in against the likes of Luton, Fulham and Crystal Palace. Klopp is showing that he remains one of the best man-managers in the game, and supporters will have every reason to start dreaming of more silverware if Liverpool continue to show the aggression and heart that has underpinned their success over the past six years.
1. Unai Emery (9/10)
What a job Emery is doing at Villa Park! The West Midlands outfit stormed to their 15th consecutive home win on Saturday as they outfoxed Arsenal, just three days after another 1-0 victory against champions Man City, and they are now just two points behind leaders Liverpool.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Villa since their opening weekend drubbing at Newcastle, and they should now be considered genuine title-contenders. Emery’s side produced the performance of the season so far to beat City, who were dominated from start to finish – a rare occurrence indeed for a Guardiola side – and every player is busting a gut for the collective cause.
Former Villarreal and Arsenal boss Emery is peerless when it comes to setting his teams up to play on the break, and he has some of the most clinical players in the Premier League to call upon at Villa. Ollie Watkins is flying while club-record signing Moussa Diaby is already looking like a steal at £52m ($64m). The manager has also brought the best out of John McGinn, Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey, so while Emery was unfairly reduced to a laughing stock towards the end of his reign at Arsenal, he is showing that he’s one of the best in the business again at Villa.
Villa haven’t been quite as strong on the road, with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest having gotten the better of them, but confidence in the camp is growing with each passing game. Emery is onto something special, with Champions League qualification now well within reach, and if the Villans can avoid injuries, a repeat of Leicester’s 2015-16 title heroics also cannot be ruled out.
