Sam Allardyce, Pep Guardiola in running for Manager of the Month gong

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 05 January 2018

Allardyce, Guardiola in running for MOTM gong

Sam Allardyce and Pep Guardiola are included on the six-man shortlist for December's Manager of the Month award in the Premier League.

Sam Allardyce is among the contenders for December's Manager of the Month award in the Premier League after a solid start to his Everton tenure.

The 63-year-old marked his first month back in management with 12 points from a possible 21, earning draws against both Liverpool and Chelsea during that run.

Allardyce helped guide Everton away from relegation trouble and into top-half contention, but he faces strong competition from Pep Guardiola after another memorable four-week spell for Manchester City.

Guardiola, who has won each of the last three awards, guided the Citizens to six wins and a draw in December, only seeing his side's long-running victorious streak come to an end on the final day of the year at Selhurst Park.

There are also nods for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea's Antonio Conte, with the former going all month without defeat and counterpart Conte taking 16 points from a possible 21 to keep his side in the higher reaches of the division.

Roy Hodgson of Crystal Palace is another who enjoyed the festive period, taking his side out of the bottom three with 10 points from 21, and Mauricio Pochettino completes the six-man shortlist following four wins and a draw from Tottenham Hotspur's six fixtures.

The winner will be announced on January 12.