Premier League reveal four nominees for October Manager of the Month award
- Ange Postecoglou looking to win award for third-successive time
- No other manager has won the prize so far this season
- Three other bosses up for October's award
By Sean Walsh
The Premier League have announced the four-person shortlist for October's Manager of the Month award.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has claimed August and September's prizes already this season, becoming the first boss to win the award twice in his opening two months in charge.
Here are the four managers up for October's gong.
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
- Games played: 3
- Wins: 2
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 0
- Goals for: 8
- Goals against: 2
Arsenal went into the October international break on a huge high after finally beating Manchester City, ending a run of 12 successive defeats in the Premier League with a late 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Their unbeaten domestic start looked to be coming to an end once club football resumed when they found themselves 2-0 down at London rivals Chelsea, but sucker-punch goals from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard earned the Gunners a memorable point.
To round off October, Arsenal turned on the style to and put Sheffield United to the sword in a 5-0 thrashing, with Eddie Nketiah grabbing a superb hat-trick.
Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
- Games played: 3
- Wins: 2
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 0
- Goals for: 8
- Goals against: 3
Arteta's predecessor at Arsenal has found his feet again at Aston Villa, with Unai Emery turning their fortunes around in his 12 months at the helm.
Aston Villa began the month with a 1-1 draw away at neighbours Wolves before turning on the style in two home games after the international break.
They first dispatched of West Ham United with ease, hammering the Irons 4-1 at Villa Park. A week later, Luton Town rocked up to the West Midlands and were sent packing to the tune of a 3-1 scoreline.
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
- Games played: 3
- Wins: 2
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 0
- Goals for: 7
- Goals against: 2
Liverpool's only defeat this season remains their controversial 2-1 loss at Tottenham at the very end of September, soaring through October at near peak performance.
A thrilling 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the international break was followed by a 2-0 victory at home to Everton in the Merseyside derby and a comprehensive 3-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest. The former even came in the dreaded early Saturday kick-off.
Ange Postecoglou (Tottenham)
- Games played: 3
- Wins: 3
- Draws: 0
- Losses: 0
- Goals for: 5
- Goals against: 1
There is a very good chance that Postecoglou becomes the first manager in Premier League history to claim this award for each of his first three months given Tottenham were the only team to win all three games in October.
They survived a trip to Luton on the eve of the international break, seeing out a 1-0 win while playing the entirety of the second half with ten men.
On their return to action, Spurs beat Fulham 2-0 in a routine affair at home before defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.