Under-fire Chelsea boss Sarri has won more games than Guardiola managed at start of Man City reign

UNDER-PRESSURE Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has had a better start to life in the Premier League than ALL his top-six rivals.

Sarri, taunted by Blues fans earlier this week, has won 28 of his first 43 games since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

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That record sees him eclipse Pep Guardiola's start at Man City, Jurgen Klopp's at Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino's at Tottenham and Unai Emery's at Arsenal.

Guardiola, whose City side eased to the title in his second season, had won 27 games at the same stage — though they had lost two fewer.

Pochettino arrived at White Hart Lane in the summer of 2014 and, after 43 games, had led Tottenham to 24 wins.

North London rival Unai Emery has won as many games since taking over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

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But the Spaniard has only been in charge for 39 games so far and could equal Sarri's record should Gunners win their next four games.

Title contenders and last year's Champions League finalists Liverpool had won just 20 games after Jurgen Klopp's first 43 games as boss.

That record also included a massive 13 draws as the Reds settled under Klopp.

The German is the only top-six coach to have taken the reins mid-season, having replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield in October 2015.

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So why has there been such vitriol aimed at Sarri?

It may be down to the Chelsea fans being so used to an instant impact from new managers in West London.

Antonio Conte, Sarri's predecessor, had a far better start than all the managers mentioned above, recording 33 wins in his first 43 games.

Conte led Chelsea to the title in his first season and the FA Cup in the next.

Blues are used to fast starts from new managers but, as Guardiola, Klopp and Pochettino have shown, patience can pay off.