September 9: After Three Rounds of the 2026-27 Premier League Season, These Managers Are Under Pressure and Could Be Close to Losing Their Jobs

After three rounds, there are still three Premier League teams that have not scored a single goal: Aston Villa, Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. Looking at this on the table, it feels somewhat unexpected. Coventry were last season's Championship champions, earning promotion with 95 points and returning to the top flight after 25 years. During the summer window, they spent nearly £90 million and broke their club transfer record three times.

After three matches, their record is 0 goals, 0 points, five goals conceded and a goal difference of -5, leaving them bottom of the table. Hull City, another promoted side that also spent money in the summer, have taken seven points from two wins and one draw, kept three clean sheets and sit behind Manchester City and Arsenal.

Lampard took charge of Coventry in November 2024, when the team were 17th in the Championship, only two points above the relegation zone. Two seasons later, he led them to promotion three rounds before the end of the season, finishing as Championship champions with a record of 25 wins, 11 draws and seven losses for 95 points. He was named Championship Manager of the Season, and the club extended his contract until 2029.

In their first three Premier League matches, Coventry faced Arsenal, Hull City and Manchester City, losing 0-3, 0-1 and 0-1 respectively. Against Arsenal in the opening round, the team had zero touches in the opposition penalty area in the first half. In the third round away at the Etihad, Manchester City had 78% possession. Coventry did have chances: Awoniyi missed a one-on-one opportunity, substitute Simms' close-range effort was saved by Donnarumma, and Haaland's header was the only goal of the match.

In attack, the squad is valued at €290 million, but they managed only two shots on target in their first two matches and averaged less than 35% possession. Defensively, Lampard's team have gone 17 consecutive Premier League matches without a clean sheet. In his last 18 Premier League matches as a manager, he has recorded one win, four draws and 13 losses. Last season in the Championship, Coventry thrived with a 4-2-3-1 formation, high pressing and set pieces (29 set-piece goals, the most in the league). In the Premier League, stronger opponents have reduced the margin for error in that approach.

Fulham scored four goals in their first three matches, more than the three teams without a goal—Aston Villa, Tottenham and Coventry—but they also have zero points. They brought in former Real Madrid player Álvaro Arbeloa as manager in the summer. In the first round, they hosted Alonso, another coach with a Real Madrid background who is in charge of Chelsea, and lost 2-3. They then lost 0-1 to Sunderland. Back at Craven Cottage against Crystal Palace, they took the lead twice but were eventually beaten 2-3, with substitute Chilwell scoring the winner with his first touch.

Arbeloa's team are not lacking in attack. Against Crystal Palace, Josh King opened the scoring with a low shot, while Nketiah's pass and Palacios' follow-up finish gave them the lead twice. However, repeated defensive errors after taking the lead allowed Mitchell to score twice, before Chilwell scored the decisive goal. They have conceded seven goals in three matches, sit 19th and have zero points. After the loss to Sunderland, Arbeloa said the players had failed to show enough pressing and running; after the Crystal Palace match, he also discussed his position as manager.

Tottenham have no wins, one draw and two defeats after three rounds, with zero goals scored, five conceded and one point, placing them 18th and inside the relegation zone. They lost 0-3 to Brentford in the opening round, with five new signings starting together. In the second round, they lost 0-2 at home to Newcastle despite leading in possession (58%), shots (17-11) and expected goals (1.04-0.75). The third round against Forest ended 0-0.

Tottenham spent more than £380 million on signings this summer, bringing in Tonali, Van Hecke, Savinho and Marmoush, while De Zerbi had just returned to the Premier League. After the opening defeat, he said the team lost too many physical battles in the first half. After the 0-2 loss to Newcastle, Tottenham matched their worst start since the 1974-75 season: two opening defeats without scoring. Since the start of 2026, Tottenham have won only one Premier League home match, and they have lost 11 league home games since last season began, the most in the league.

Nottingham Forest have two points after three rounds, losing 0-1 to Leeds United, drawing 2-2 with Liverpool and drawing 0-0 with Tottenham. They have scored two goals, conceded three and sit 16th. Forest have changed managers frequently in recent years, and Glasner is currently the one in the dugout. Taking points from Liverpool and keeping a clean sheet against Tottenham show that their defensive structure has developed, but they have scored only twice in three matches and are still searching for their first win. After the 0-0 draw with Tottenham, they are only one point above the relegation zone.