Managers on thin ice in the Premier League sack race

As the 2017-18 Premier League season heads towards its exciting climax, it seems almost a foregone conclusion that Manchester City will land the title. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated on all fronts throughout the campaign and, after winning the League Cup in February, there’s the genuine prospect the team could achieve the remarkable feat of being the first ever ‘quadruple’ winners in English football, if they can land the domestic treble and achieve ultimate success in the Champions League.

Nevertheless, whilst there’s a mood of celebration at the Etihad Stadium for Pep and his exceptionally talented group of players, elsewhere in the Premier League, the future of several managers is far from certain. Finishing in the top four remains the key objective for the leading teams hanging on City’s coat-tails, such as Manchester United just across town. Jose Mourinho’s future at Old Trafford seems secure as his club plan further reinforcements to bolster the squad ahead of next season but, down south in London, it’s growing increasingly unlikely that Antonio Conte will remain at Chelsea for much longer.

The Italian coach has been far from happy with the transfer policy at the club, leading to his relationship with Roman Abramovic becoming increasingly strained. Mixed results during the first two months of 2018 led to speculation Conte might even be sacked before the end of the season. Indeed, the odds have shortened with several of the leading bookmakers and, if you share their view, click here for a free bet and you might just profit from the uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, especially if comparing the odds. William Hill and Betway have Conte at 3/1 to be sacked before the end of the season, whilst Unibet and 888 Sport are a little more conservative with their estimations, offering odds of 4/1 on a premature departure for the Italian.

Meanwhile, and beyond the battle for European positions at the top end of the table, the fight to avoid relegation is as fierce as ever in the Premier League. Heading into March with his team propping up the table in last position and seven points away from the safety zone, West Bromwich Albion are clear favourites for the drop, with manager Alan Pardew treading water to save his job at the club. While debates continue to rage in the local press, the experienced 56-year-old coach is considered to be living on borrowed time if results don’t improve at The Hawthorns. Several leading bookmakers believe the clock is ticking with odds of 2/5 on Pardew being sacked, hardly promising for his chances.

Having already made recent managerial changes, the objective for Carlos Carvalhal at Swansea City and Paul Lambert at Stoke City is nothing less than climbing out of the Premier League’s bottom three. Whether that goal is achieved will obviously dictate any long-term future each coach might have at their respective clubs. Crystal Palace have stood by Roy Hodgson through a difficult season but, despite his wealth of experience and stubborn resolve, it might not be enough to stop the Eagles heading to the Championship. Argentine coach Mauricio Pellegrino has struggled with Southampton, who also find themselves in the thick of a relegation scrap. After his remarkable feats with Deportivo Alavés last season in Spain, life in England has proven much more stressful, and bookmakers are offering odds as short as 5/1 that The Saints boss will be given the push before too long.

Whichever managers you think are likely to feature strongly in the dreaded sack race, if you fancy a flutter on their chances between now and the end of the season, be sure to check the statistics and information we have right here at Manager Stats, updated regularly with the win percentages of every head coach in English football.

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