Managerial Hotspot: Is De Zerbi the first coach to get sacked this season?

Spurs out of the Carabao Cup as De Zerbi heat rises, plus Arbeloa’s boost and Lampard’s early Coventry struggle.

Roberto De Zerbi is odds on as the first Premier League manager to walk this season. Is there a chance he turns things around? (Photo credit: GOAL)

Tottenham lost again in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night after going down 3-1 at Anfield. Roberto De Zerbi and his team have reached the end of their journey in the competition.

Spurs won't play in Europe, so they'll only have the FA Cup later, and if they lose early again, they'll play just 42 games all season. Shades of Manchester United from last season.

The Red Devils picked things up in the second half of the season under Michael Carrick to eventually finish third on the log. Is there a chance that the current Tottenham side that looks so abject can tell the same story at the end of the season?

Without a doubt, Roberto De Zerbi is the firm favourite to get sacked first in the Premier League this season. No one else comes close if you consider other contexts, and it's important to ask when the patience will run dry with the club hierarchy.

The club backed the Italian manager in the transfer window. The players who opted to leave the club in the summer were either allowed to leave or frozen out on the manager's instructions. What else does he want?

The club finished in 17th spot last season, but De Zerbi will take credit for keeping the club up. His job is now beyond fighting relegation. After spending so much in the summer, competing for the title is the main goal, with qualification for European places as second choice.

Alvaro Arbeloa beat West Ham in the League Cup on Tuesday, handing the Spaniard a fresh lease in charge at the club. The next few fixtures will determine what happens to the former Real Madrid head coach, but for now, his job is safe.

Frank Lampard is another manager with headaches after losing his opening four league games. The Sky Blues have been unfortunate with fixtures; three of their opening four games have been against the reigning champions, last season's runners-up, and high-flying Brighton.

We expect Lampard to get at least ten games. The England manager won the Championship League last season, which shows he has something in him, but the Premier League is a different ball game. Can Lampard keep Coventry up?