Source: Daily_Mail
THE FIRING LINE: Liverpool boss tops our table as the next for the chop!
So the January transfer window is open but the major moves so far have been in the managerial hot-seats as Owen Coyle completes his move to Bolton and Brian Laws makes his top-flight debut with Burnley.[LNB]Rafa Benitez is on the brink at Liverpool, Big Sam is not looking such a giant at Blackburn, while Gianfranco Zola and Phil Brown continue to fret.[LNB]Some bosses are having a harder time than most, but who's next to go?[LNB] Royals rumble: Reading players celebrate after beating Liverpool in the FA Cup[LNB]Each week we bring you our latest chart of the managers under pressure, and those on Easy Street.[LNB] Here's Sportsmail's sack-racerankings - otherwise known as The Firing Line.[LNB]1Liverpool - Rafa BenitezOut of the Champions League, out of the FA and League Cups, out ofthe title race. Should Rafa go too? And he'll be without Torres andGerrard for the clash at Stoke. UP EIGHT [LNB]2Blackburn - Sam AllardyceWithout a win in 12 matches in all competitions. Paul Ince's longestwinless run was six games. No wins since November 22 explains hispredicament and it's Fulham away next. UP TWO[LNB][LNB]3West Ham - Gianfranco ZolaA trip to Villa is not what Zola would have chosen for his nextmatch but that's what he's got as he attempts to drag the Hammers outof the drop zone. Winless in six. DOWN ONE[LNB]4Hull City - Phil BrownNo wins in seven, 18 goals conceded and second bottom - the clocks ticking for Brown who needs a result away at high-flying Spurs to start clawing his way out of the relegation spots. DOWN THREE[LNB][LNB]5Wigan - Roberto MartinezDon't be fooled by the win over Hull in the Cup, Martinez's side are struggling and without a win in five in the League. Did anyone say six-pointer - they're away at Wolves on Saturday. DOWN TWO[LNB][LNB]6Wolves - Mick McCarthyCup victory is all well and good but points are what the club need and sitting a point above the bottom three should focus the mind before new signings arrive. Wigan is a must-win game. DOWN ONE[LNB]7Portsmouth - Avram GrantOh dear. It's a mess at Fratton Park with Pompey struggling to rubtwo pennies together, let alone string two wins together. You have tofeel for Grant who faces Birmingham next. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB]8Sunderland - Steve BruceWinless in seven and Bruce is dipping into the transfer market. Maybe he could purchase a few beach balls? They have only won once since that infamous event against Liverpool. DOWN TWO[LNB][LNB]9Stoke City - Tony PulisFour defeats in five ended with the nailbiter against Fulham, Stoke's season can still go either way but they have under-fire Liverpool on Saturday - that's a nailed on three points, surely! DOWN ONE[LNB]10Everton - David MoyesVictory over Burnley in the League and Carlisle in the Cup, plus just missing out on three points at the Emirates means the Toffees are on a nice run ahead of the clash with Man City. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB]11Burnley - Brian LawsNot exactly and inspiring appointment. Laws' lack of top-flight experience won't help as he attempts toturn around a winless sequence in the league that stretches back toOctober. NEW ENTRY[LNB]12Aston Villa - Martin O'NeillVilla are fast being forgotten in the race for the top four but don't count them out just yet, consecutive defeats in the league will be forgotten with victory over strugglers West Ham. DOWN ONE[LNB]13Fulham - Roy HodgsonFulham are doing well but remain dreadful away from home and are now without the injured Bobby Zamora. A real test for the resilience of Hodgson's side comes at Blackburn on Sunday. DOWN ONE[LNB] [LNB]14Chelsea - Carlo AncelottiSince looking like run-away Premier League winners after the 3-0 victory over Arsenal, Ancelotti's side have won just twice in the League. Stutter needs to end at home to Sunderland. NON-MOVER[LNB]15Bolton Wanderers - Owen CoyleThe new-boy will have time to settle in but he has promised to bring the good days back to the Reebok with entertaining football - he may need to get the chequebook out, then. NEW ENTRY[LNB]16Tottenham - Harry RedknappRedknapp reckons his side play sexy football, but his team will need to find consistency over a sustained period if they are to steal back fourth place and clash with Hull next. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB]17Birmingham City - Alex McLeishUnbeaten in 12 even before he's started spending chairman Carson Yeung's money. McLeish will earn immortality if his side keep this form up... and they have Pompey next. DOWN TWO[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]18Arsenal - Arsene WengerMonsieur Wenger probably wishes the club hadn't fought so hard to keep the match with Everton on. Still, 17 points from the last seven matches means they're in great touch with Bolton next. DOWN ONE[LNB]19Man City - Roberto ManciniMancini really can do no wrong right now. Four games, four wins anda solitary goal conceded - the scarf is a lucky mascot, he probablysleeps in it. City travel to Everton next. DOWN SIX[LNB]20Man United - Sir Alex FergusonSuffered three defeats in the last seven in all competitions but maybe the sun the club enjoyed in Qatar can warm up their title challenge for the clash with Burnley. DOWN TWO[LNB][LNB] Andy Townsend: This bunch at Liverpool are just so mediocre!THAT WAS THE SPORTING WEEK: Rafa's boys put themselves in the (Pound) shop window, fire sale at Old Trafford, Hatton unveils plans to fight big nameNORTHERN EXPOSURE: Magpies are not counting their chickens just yet - but Hull boss Phil Brown will get the bird if Tigers sink any lower
