Rafa Benitez Cut From 5/1 To 4/6 To Be The Next Premier League Manager Sacked

The appointment of Rafa Benitez at Everton was always a hugely risky decision and is already beginning to hit the rocks earlier than was initially anticipated.

Benitez was never going to get much rope from Everton supporters given his enormous ties with the team in red across Stanley Park, for whom he became an idol when he guided them to Champions League glory in 2005. 

Those ties are impossible to ignore and immediately left the Spaniard on the backfoot before a ball was kicked, but he did get off to a decent start despite the initial backlash, winning four of his first five matches in all competition.

Since then, however, it’s all been downhill for the Toffees who have also been ravaged by injuries to key players such as Yerry Mina, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Those Everton supporters that were initially against the Benitez appointment certainly won’t accept that as an excuse, particularly after winning just one of their last 10 games since their five-game unbeaten start.

Tensions really boiled over on Sunday afternoon from the travelling Everton faithful after they lost 1-0 away to Brentford after Ivan Toney’s penalty. That means they have now lost five of their last six in the Premier League and have failed to score in their last 304 minutes of league action.

The team were booed off by fans in the away end at the Brentford Community Stadium, who were keen to tell the players where to go when they went over to applaud those who had made the long trip down to the capital to support them.

Going into the weekend Benitez was priced at 5/1 with Paddy Power to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post, but that has been cut drastically to 4/6, making him the big favourite ahead of Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhuttl at 5/1.

Everton’s next fixture is likely to play a big role in that short price as they face Liverpool at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. It will be the first time Benitez has taken charge of the Blues in the Merseyside Derby and there is the very distinct possibility that the atmosphere in Goodison could turn particularly toxic if Everton are on the wrong end of another defeat.

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Liverpool at home is the first of five testing fixtures in the Premier League for Benitez’s team between now and Christmas as they also face Arsenal (H), Crystal Palace (A), Chelsea (A) and Leicester City (H). 

There have already been six managerial changes in the Premier League this season and three in the most recent international break. Steven Gerrard, Eddie Howe and Dean Smith took charge of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Norwich City respectively during the two-week break from league fixtures. 

Benitez admitted he understands the fans’ frustration, but is adamant that they can rediscover their early season form when they have their full complement of players back in the fold.

“We can understand the frustration of the fans but we are also frustrated,” he said.

“Today you cannot complain about the effort and intensity the players put in. We didn’t deserve to lose but the reality is the team is giving everything on the pitch and you can see the togetherness of the players.

“It is a question of confidence, missing players – but you could see what we were capable of doing at the beginning of the season. When we have everyone available, I am confident we will do it again.”

Full Next Premier League Manager To Leave Their Post Odds

• Rafa Benitez – 4/6
• Ralph Hasenhuttl – 5/1
• Brendan Rodgers – 13/2
• Claudio Ranieri – 15/2
• Marcelo Bielsa – 16/1
• Eddie Howe – 20/1
• No Manager To Leave – 20/1
• Dean Smith – 20/1
• Sean Dyche – 25/1
• Graham Potter – 33/1
• Mikel Arteta – 33/1
• Bruno Lage – 40/1
• Thomas Frank – 40/1
• Patrick Vieria – 50/1
• Antonio Conte – 50/1
• Steven Gerrard – 66/1
• David Moyes – 80/1
• Thomas Tuchel – 80/1
• Pep Guardiola – 80/1
• Jurgen Klopp – 80/1