Winless but not hopeless: what is going on at Premier League’s bottom four?

Ipswich Pts 4 GD -8

Why have they struggled? Ipswich are not carrying themselves like strugglers. They were dealt the toughest of starts after 22 years away, facing Liverpool and Manchester City, so an element of catch-up was inevitable. But a few jitters may set in if they do not emerge from their next three games, all winnable, with a first victory. Kieran McKenna reinforced his squad heavily in the summer and, while the core that won promotion remain, there has been an inevitable settling-in process. Liam Delap has the ground running after moving from City but their fate may hang on how quickly his fellow recruits find their rhythm.

What signs of hope are there? Until an error-strewn defeat at West Ham last time out, Ipswich could take positives from every game. They defended stoutly to hold off Brighton and then, when Aston Villa visited a typically atmospheric Portman Road, showed a more familiar side in a 2-2 draw they should have won. They do not look out of place and, with a few better decisions in attacking areas, would be significantly better off. Kalvin Phillips has started well after his surprise loan move and Delap, Jacob Greaves and Omari Hutchinson are three of the best young English players around; all three should only improve as the season continues.

How safe is the manager? McKenna’s job is among the safest in the Premier League. Ipswich breathed a huge sigh of relief when he signed a lucrative new deal in May despite overtures from several top-flight rivals. He has barely put a foot wrong since arriving in December 2021 and will be forgiven a few bumps in the road this season. He has shown that, when required, his team can display a more pragmatic approach than the swashbuckling style that took them up the divisions. NA

Crystal Palace Pts 3 GD -5

Why have they struggled? The turnover in players in the summer, with four arriving on deadline day after the departures of Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew and Joachim Andersen, has been a major factor. A new defence has struggled for consistency and Oliver Glasner’s side have looked a long way off the swashbuckling outfit that finished last season so well and have scored only five times in their opening seven matches. The goals have dried up for Jean-Philippe Mateta with Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze failing to recapture the form that earned them selection for England’s Euro 2024 squad.

What signs of hope are there? Palace spent about £65m on signings in the summer – not including the free transfer Daichi Kamada from Lazio – and brought in Trevoh Chalobah on loan from Chelsea. None of them have really made their mark so far but there are promising signs that Maxence Lacroix, Chalobah and Marc Guéhi can develop into an imposing back three given time to gel. Ismaïla Sarr, Kamada and Eddie Nketiah have shown flashes of their ability but must produce goals to move Palace up the table.

How safe is the manager? Glasner could do no wrong at the end of last season but will have matched Palace’s infamous start to the 2016-17 season – when they had three points after eight matches after sacking Frank De Boer – should they lose to Nottingham Forest on Monday. Given his reliance on wing-backs, the Austrian must find a solution to replace Daniel Muñoz on the right if the Colombian remains out after limping off against Liverpool in their last game. Glasner will realise another defeat would pile on the pressure before meetings with Spurs and Aston Villa. EA

Southampton Pts 1 GD – 11

Why have they struggled? The fourth-best team in the Championship last season were always going to find the step up in class tough. They have tried to bolster the squad; seven of the starting XI in last month’s damning defeat by Bournemouth did not start for the club in the league last season. Cameron Archer, one of 14 summer signings, registered his first goal against Arsenal last time out and Aaron Ramsdale is an upgrade in goal. Russell Martin has been criticised for being dogmatic but, as he said after that 3-1 loss at Bournemouth, the goals they conceded were not due to style but rather a lack of aggression. Southampton have a bloated squad and the manager is evidently unsure of his best team.

What signs of hope are there? The 18-year-old Tyler Dibling, who joined the academy aged eight, has been the overwhelming beacon of light. The Exeter-born teenager was superb on his full debut against Manchester United, almost opening the scoring after picking the ball up inside his own half and later winning a penalty. Dibling, who is at his best taking the ball on the half-turn and burning clear of defenders, showed superb poise to bury his first senior goal against Ipswich. Martin has placed huge trust in a player he says the world is surely watching.

How safe is the manager? Martin was rewarded with a new three-year contract after leading Saints to promotion via a Wembley playoff final. Giving Arsenal a fright last time out eased immediate pressure but Martin knows results must follow to satisfy the owner, Dragan Solak, who sanctioned more than £100m on signings, and that encouraging data or statistics count for little. “No one cares unless you win,” he said this week. Leicester’s visit to St Mary’s on Saturday has been earmarked as the ideal opportunity for Martin to record that elusive first three points. BF

skip past newsletter promotion

Wolves Pts 1 GD -12

Why have they struggled? Wolves have conceded a league-high 21 goals and, up the other end, last season’s key performers are either absent – see Pedro Neto – or out of form in the case of Hwang Hee-chan. The decision not to replace Maximilian Kilman, one of only two outfield players to play every top-flight minute last season (the other being Arsenal’s William Saliba), has been further exposed by Yerson Mosquera’s season-ending knee injury. Gary O’Neil’s decision to persist with a back four has until now backfired but he is minded to switch to a five-man defence for the visit of Manchester City on Sunday, though his options are limited, with Craig Dawson, Toti Gomes and Santiago Bueno the only available senior central defenders.

What signs of hope are there? Wolves have the bones of a decent team – the problem is they lack depth and two months in their squad is being strained. In Matheus Cunha, João Gomes and André, a summer deadline-day signing from Fluminense, they boast a trio of Brazil internationals. Hwang and the full-backs Rayan Aït-Nouri and Nélson Semedo are among those yet to reach last season’s heights. The No 9 Jørgen Strand Larsen got his second goal of the season in the humiliating 5-3 defeat at Brentford last time out – a performance O’Neil described as the worst he has overseen as a manager – and has shown signs of potential.

How safe is the manager? O’Neil and his staff signed new four-year contracts in the summer after reviving Wolves last season and the club are keen to give him more time to turn things around. They are conscious of the brutal fixture list – Wolves have faced Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle – but things do not get any easier with a trip to Brighton after hosting City. O’Neil retains the support of the decision-makers but, with Wolves bottom after six defeats in seven, he must find a way of arresting the slide. BF