Premier League clubs are not renowned for their patience when firing managers but we’re still waiting on the first sacking of 2024.

English top-flight coaches were dismissed at a rate of just over one per month in 2023, but boardroom activity has since slowed down.

Southampton are heavy favourites for Premier League relegationGetty

In seven of the last 11 Premier League seasons, a manager has left their post before November 11 – the cutoff point before the final international break of a calendar year.

However, it took until December last season for the first owner to swing their axe but Paul Heckingbottom’s sacking as Sheffield United manager sparked Nottingham Forest into a similar decision with Steve Cooper.

This term could follow a similar format, with several bosses under mounting pressure to reverse slides in form.

The only departures in 2024 so far have been a mutual parting of the ways – whether that’s manager-driven like Jurgen Klopp or club-driven including David Moyes and Mauricio Pochettino.

With the 2024/25 season in full flow, Premier League owners don’t have the luxury of being anything but ruthless in the dugout.

Here, we’ve looked at the top-five most likely contenders to be sacked first, via talkSPORT Bet’s latest odds.

Russell Martin 4/6

Time is running out for the Southampton boss after their latest collapse saw the club’s wait for a first win continue.

The Saints appeared to be cruising to a first Premier League victory as they led fellow promoted side Leicester 2-0 at half-time.

However, Jordan Ayew’s 97th-minute winner capped an inspired Foxes comeback to leave Martin fearing for his future at St Mary’s.

Their latest defeat leaves Southampton with just one point from their first eight games, only above the bottom by goal difference.

The south coast outfit next face Manchester City before crunch six-point showdowns against fellow relegation-threatened sides Everton and Wolves.

Anything but positive results in at least one of those games will surely leave Southampton with little choice but to sack Martin.

Southampton boss Martin is heavily tipped to be the first manager sackedGetty

Erik ten Hag 3/1

The Dutchman has accused the media of brewing up ‘fairytales’ and ‘lies’ when discussing his position at Manchester United.

Unfortunately for him, it appears fans are little convinced that Ten Hag will continue in his post at Old Trafford for too much longer.

The former Ajax gaffer oversaw a morale-boosting comeback win over Brentford to ease the speculation surrounding him.

Ten Hag will know building momentum will be the ultimate test in quietening the noise that was generated from their poor start.

Man United picked up just eight points in their first seven Premier League games and suffered heavy losses to Liverpool and Tottenham.

In June, Ten Hag admitted that United contacted other managers about his job before he agreed a surprise contract extension.

He had been under pressure with the club ending eighth in the table – United’s lowest-ever finish in the Premier League.

But his success in the FA Cup – his second trophy following the Carabao Cup win in 2023 – was rewarded with a new one-year deal.

Ten Hag’s future at United is far from certainGetty

Gary O’Neil 4/1

The Wolves manager is running out of both time and excuses as the club’s continued slip to the bottom of the table continues.

O’Neil was given backing by the Wolves hierarchy at the start of the season, with games against six of their first eight Premier League opponents coming against teams that finished in the top seven.

Among those matches were battling performances at home to title chasers Manchester City and Liverpool, but with no point to show for it.

His side were also gutted in the summer market, with star man Pedro Neto and key defender Max Kilman leaving for Chelsea and West Ham respectively.

However, the facts remain that Wolves are bottom after conceding 23 goals in their first eight Premier League games.

Set piece coach Jack Wilson has already been sacked during the October international break and O’Neil could soon follow.

Bruno Lage only made it to October 2 when he was given his marching orders in 2022.

O’Neil’s startling claim that referees ‘subconsciously’ reward bigger clubs won’t distract the Molineux faithful for too much longer.

Wolves are struggling near the foot of the tableGetty

Julen Lopetegui 8/1

The Spaniard was intended to lead West Ham into a bright new era but his reign since succeeding David Moyes has been disastrous.

There was much excitement surrounding the prospect of the former Wolves chief, having led Sevilla to Europa League glory in 2020 and also managing Real Madrid.

Lopetegui was backed heavily with a huge £150m outlay, that included £40m Kilman, £25.5m teenage winger Luis Guilherme, Aaron Wan-Bissaka for £15m from Man United and Crysencio Summerville from Leeds for £25m.

In addition, fan favourites Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus all remained at the club.

But for one reason or another Lopetegui’s tactics have not translated onto the pitch with just two wins from their first eight league games.

West Ham lost their opening three home games of a league season for the first time ever and were also hammered 5-1 by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Lopetegui was brought in to improve the Irons’ ninth-placed finish last campaign and bring European football back to the London Stadium.

After eight Premier League matches, West Ham are just five points above the relegation zone.

Lopetegui has overseen West Ham’s worst league start to a season on home soilGetty

Oliver Glasner 20/1

A few months is a long time in the life of a Premier League manager!

Glasner joined Crystal Palace in February to succeed Roy Hodgson and guided them to tenth in the Premier League.

Glasner won seven of his opening 13 matches in charge at Palace and went unbeaten in their final seven games of last campaign, a run that included wins over Liverpool and Man United.

After his impressive start to life at Selhurst Park, Bayern Munich were revealed to be interested in signing the Austrian as their replacement for Thomas Tuchel before Vincent Kompany was appointed.

However, Palace valued him at a whopping €100m in order to keep hold of his services but a slow start to this season has flipped the mood in south London.

Glasner’s Palace finished last season strongly but the mood has dampenedGetty

Palace failed to win in their first seven Premier League games this season with the scope of a rebuild at the club proving an issue.

Talisman Michael Olise and Jordan Ayew both left – with the pair’s 13 assists last season nearly a quarter of Palace’s overall tally – as did Joachim Andersen while Marc Guehi was also the subject of persistent transfer talk despite eventually staying put.

In contrast, incoming stars Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr have both failed to open their goalscoring accounts in the Premier League, with Eberechi Eze struggling to shoulder the burden.

To add insult to injury, Adam Wharton has struggled with fitness and the goals have also dried up for former hitman Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Mateta, Palace’s player of the year last season, scored 13 goals in 14 Premier League appearances under Glasner – more than any other player in the top-flight during that time – but he’s only found the net in one match this term.