I’VE said it before but the Premier League table is often divided up by groups of the top six teams, the middle eight and bottom six.

Looking at the top, as I said last week, it is great to see Newcastle United breaking into that group but it is also a bit surprising when you see Liverpool.

They are just in the top six but they are 16 points behind Arsenal. Unfortunately for Saints supporters, they have to scroll a long way down.

As we speak, they are still in the bottom position – but let me point out the points totals; they are only four or five behind the likes of AFC Bournemouth and Leeds United.

If they can get two wins in a row they will be looking up again rather than down. The trouble is we have only won three of the 17 games and since points earned for winning went from two to three that is the difference.

The managers are always under pressure and when they join the clubs they know what is expected, and I am sure that Mr Nathan Jones will realise he needs two or, hopefully, three wins soon.

I think there is no need to panic at this stage yet as two wins in a row would be just what we are looking for.

It is too early to talk about relegation being a certainty, let’s try and be positive and get behind the team because they are even getting booed off at half-time now.

From a manager’s point of view, I know just how hard he will be working to fix the situation and give supporters a reason to stop the booing.  

Speaking of British managers, there are always a lot who I’ve thought well of and senior players who have done coaching courses and will be waiting for a phone call to cut their teeth at a lower lever – many will be happy to work at any one of the 92 clubs.

One who was given a big job at the end of last year was Graham Potter at Chelsea, and the owners are putting money in but the only way they can get something back is getting into European competitions.

They are currently 10th but we are only just coming up to halfway through in the division, and there is plenty to look forward to as the table takes shape over the next few months.

When you look at managers under pressure, I was reading about Frank Lampard in the national newspapers and, although I like Lampard, I can understand that.

After a long time, his team, Everton, are in the bottom six and should normally be closer to the top six with the big clubs like Liverpool.

Normally to me it would be the last part of a season where a manager is under pressure but it is happening halfway through now because it is so important to stay in the top flight.

Lampard has lost eight of the last 11 and by the time you read the column we will all know how they got on against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday and he could well have been shown the door.

Whilst some supporters will not be happy, those at Arsenal will be singing and dancing with Mikel Arteta having lost only one league game all season.

They have scored 40 goals and only conceded 14, and they are eight points ahead of their biggest title rivals Manchester City, who do have one game in hand.

The New Year is on us and it will be interesting to see how the top six and bottom six changes over the next few months, and how many changes in the manager’s offices come up in that time.

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