De Zerbi rated 2/10 as Moyes tops Premier League manager ratings after five games
Roberto De Zerbi is under mounting pressure after being rated just 2/10 for Tottenham's start, with David Moyes earning the only 10/10 for Everton's unbeaten opening. Mirror Football's assessment of all 20 Premier League managers has placed the Spurs boss at the bottom, five matches into the season.
- Bottom of the ratings: Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham) — 2/10
- Top of the ratings: David Moyes (Everton) — 10/10
- Rating scale: Based on first five matches, not betting odds or dismissal confirmation
- Publication: Mirror Football, reporter Ryan Taylor
- At stake: Mood around clubs and early-season judgements, not confirmed sackings
What was said
"It's a worry but it's still too early to suggest De Zerbi deserves the boot, though results must improve quickly."
Taylor's quote neatly sums up the wider point of these ratings: a poor start is not the same as grounds for immediate dismissal. Five matches rarely tell the whole story, but they can change the mood remarkably quickly. Summer optimism gives way to questions about recruitment, selections and whether a manager's ideas are translating into results.
De Zerbi is not yet in sack-race territory according to the source. The 2/10 reflects a start that has produced two points and left Tottenham bottom, with significant summer spending sharpening the disappointment. Familiar problems at home have continued. The warning is clear: results must improve quickly.
Fulham, Palace and Man United: the next layer of pressure
Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa receives 3/10 after collecting the same number of points as De Zerbi. His early attempts to build an adventurous side have exposed defensive weaknesses, although there are signs of greater resilience. A clean sheet against Liverpool offers encouragement, as does the possibility of a more settled midfield partnership between Shea Charles and Sander Berge. The forthcoming meeting with Ipswich carries particular importance: difficult fixtures provide context, but Fulham need victories against potential survival rivals.
Pierre Sage also scores 3/10 at Crystal Palace. Three defeats in five matches have made an already demanding succession to Oliver Glasner more uncomfortable. Changes to the defensive personnel complicate his task, but improved performances are needed to establish confidence in his methods.
At Manchester United, Michael Carrick's 4/10 reflects five points from five games. The concern is the gap between that return and the club's ambitions. His attempt to establish greater control through possession needs results to give it credibility.
Marco Rose receives 5/10 at Bournemouth, where European promise has contrasted with a winless domestic start. Nine games in 28 days after the international break threaten to stretch both the squad and the manager's capacity to prepare.
Chelsea's Xabi Alonso earns 6/10. Early attacking excitement has been followed by concerns about midfield and defensive stability. Finding balance within his preferred system now matters more than sustaining the initial sense of novelty. Oliver Glasner receives the same mark at Nottingham Forest. His team remain in transition, with questions over whether his preferred formation suits the available players. Stability and gradual improvement are central to the case for patience. Unai Emery's 6/10 at Aston Villa also requires context. Significant squad turnover and injuries have disrupted a manager whose previous work offers substantial grounds for trust.
Sunderland's Regis Le Bris scores 7/10 despite an uncomfortable league position. European progress and competitive displays against strong opposition help explain why the mood around his team is more positive than the table alone suggests.
Moyes sets the standard as others earn 9/10
David Moyes is the only manager awarded 10/10. Everton's unbeaten opening across seven matches in all competitions looks particularly impressive against the backdrop of a depleted squad. The source describes a difficult end to the transfer window that left Moyes with limited cover in several positions. His rating recognises the relationship between those constraints and the results achieved.
Keith Andrews earns 9/10 after taking Brentford through their first five league games unbeaten. His willingness to make decisive substitutions has reinforced the impression of a manager comfortable taking responsibility. Daniel Farke also receives 9/10, with Leeds collecting nine points without defeat. Tactical flexibility and the integration of new signings have strengthened his position, although his contract remains an unresolved issue. Hull's Sergej Jakirovic completes this group on 9/10. Eight points from five matches represent an encouraging return for a promoted team absorbing extensive squad changes.
Gary O'Neil earns 7/10 at Ipswich after two early victories. Coventry's Frank Lampard receives 6/10, with a first win at Nottingham Forest providing relief after four defeats against a challenging opening schedule.
Title contenders offer contrasting reasons for confidence
Enzo Maresca's 9/10 at Manchester City reflects a perfect league start and an impressive Manchester derby victory. Contributions across the attack have reduced the burden on Erling Haaland. Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler also scores 9/10. Emphatic wins over Arsenal and Coventry underline the effectiveness of his pressing approach, although European commitments will test its sustainability.
Mikel Arteta receives 8/10 as Arsenal begin their title defence. One defeat has interrupted an otherwise strong opening, with squad rotation among the longer-term challenges. Newcastle's Matthias Jaissle matches that rating after collecting eight points and responding positively to a heavy defeat at Leeds. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola earns 7/10. An unbeaten start and victories across three competitions provide a platform, even if the performances remain uneven.
Why De Zerbi's rating is a warning, not a verdict
These are performance ratings, not betting odds or confirmation that clubs are considering dismissals. That distinction matters. Roberto De Zerbi has overseen a Tottenham start that has produced just two points and left them bottom, with significant summer spending sharpening the disappointment. The pressure is real, but the source is explicit: it is still too early to suggest he deserves the boot.
By contrast, David Moyes is the only manager on 10/10. Everton's unbeaten opening across seven matches in all competitions looks particularly impressive given a depleted squad and a difficult end to the transfer window that left limited cover in several positions. Moyes is exceeding expectations with a fraction of the resources available at Tottenham.
The middle of the table is where the nuances bite. Xabi Alonso at Chelsea has shown early attacking excitement, but concerns about midfield and defensive stability are growing. Finding balance in his preferred system is now the priority. At Manchester United, Michael Carrick has five points from five games, and the gap between that return and the club's ambitions is the concern. His possession-based control needs results to give it credibility.
Talking points
- Is De Zerbi's 2/10 fair? Tottenham have two points and sit bottom despite significant summer spending — but five matches is a tiny sample to judge any manager.
- David Moyes as the only 10/10: Everton's unbeaten start across seven matches in all competitions with a depleted squad is objectively the best performance of the early season.
- Fulham's meeting with Ipswich already looks season-defining for Alvaro Arbeloa. A clean sheet against Liverpool is a sign of resilience, but victories against survival rivals are what matter.
- Enzo Maresca's 9/10 at Manchester City rests on a perfect league start and a derby win, but contributions across the attack reducing the burden on Erling Haaland is the tactical shift to watch.
What happens next
The next sequence of fixtures will refine these early judgements. Bournemouth face nine games in 28 days after the international break, a run that will test Marco Rose's squad and preparation capacity. Fulham's meeting with Ipswich carries particular importance for Alvaro Arbeloa, while Tottenham's results must improve quickly to ease the pressure on Roberto De Zerbi. David Moyes will look to extend Everton's unbeaten opening.
Frequently asked questions
Who is bottom of the Premier League manager ratings after five games?
Roberto De Zerbi of Tottenham received the lowest mark of 2/10 in Mirror Football's assessment, reflecting two points and a bottom-placed start.
Which manager got a 10/10 rating in the Premier League sack race review?
David Moyes was the only manager awarded 10/10, with Everton unbeaten across seven matches in all competitions despite a depleted squad.
Is Roberto De Zerbi getting sacked by Tottenham?
The source states it is still too early to suggest De Zerbi deserves the boot, though results must improve quickly. These are performance ratings, not confirmation of dismissal considerations.
Related Articles
Filed under: Manager News | LA Premier League Home
