Frank Lampard, David Moyes, Nathan Jones and Graham Potter are among a cluster of Premier League managers facing ultra intensive scrutiny when England’s top tier teams switch attention to FA Cup action this weekend. Everton boss Lampard is one of the game’s most celebrated midfielders but faces the sack unless he can conjure up magic when his bedraggled Toffees battle Manchester United on Friday night.
Everton are winless in their last seven encounters with Tuesday’s 1-4 reverse at home to Brighton Hove Albion a new low point. The loss came after a battling 1-1 draw with Manchester City and followed lackluster displays in two consecutive defeats to Bournemouth and a 1-2 loss to Wolves. Everton has netted just four times and conceded a whopping 16 goals in this dismal spell.
Opponents Manchester United are enjoying a purple patch, having bounced back spectacularly from an abysmal start to Eric Ten Haag’s Old Trafford tenure. The Red Devils are oozing confidence after stringing together six consecutive victories. Four-time club player of the year David de Gea is back to his imperious best whereas marquee signing Casemiro and long serving stalwarts Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are in the form of their lives.
Moyes’ expensively assembled West Ham United are hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference after failing to win any of their last seven matches. The former Manchester United and Everton gaffer won plaudits for taking the Hammers into Europe in two successive seasons but none of last summer’s signings has cut the ice.
Lucas Pacqueta, Emerson Palmeiri, Thilo Kehrer, Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwell Cornet are all operating below full throttle to the chagrin of Hammers faithfuls.
Thomas Frank’s well chiseled Brentford, 2-0 winners over West Ham a matter of days ago, are certain to push the misfiring Hammers to the limit when they square off on Saturday afternoon.
Chelsea gaffer Potter has already provoked ire among Stamford Bridge club diehards by issuing an alibi before Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City. The former Swansea and Brighton Hove Albion manager warned fans that despite overseeing an underwhelming commencement to his West London career, it might get worse before getting better for the former Premier League and European champions.
Southampton’s Nathan Jones is in an equally precarious position in the St Mary’s Stadium hot seat. The Saints have lost four consecutive Premier League matches under Jones’ tutelage to drop to the bottom of the standings, intensifying the pressure on the youthful manager ahead of his team’s trip to Selhurst Park where they confront a Crystal Palace side still reeling from Wednesday’s 0-4 pummeling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
FRIDAY
Manchester United v Everton
SATURDAY
Crystal Palace v Southampton,
Forest Green v Birmingham City,
Gillingham v Leicester City,
Reading v Watford,
Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth,
Blackpool v Nottingham Forest,
Bournemouth v Burnley,
Chesterfield v West Bromwich Albion,
Hull City v Fulham,
Ipswich Town v Rotterham,
Boro v Brighton Hove Albion,
Millwall v Sheffield United,
Brentford v West Ham United,
Coventry v West Ham United
Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United,
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
SUNDAY
Bristol City v Swansea,
Cardiff City v Leeds United,
Hartlepool v Stoke City,
Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers,
Aston Villa v Stevenage,
Manchester City v Chelsea
MONDAY
Oxford United v Arsenal
