Crystal Palace are set to dismiss manager Pierre Sage on Monday, making him the first Premier League casualty of the season. The Frenchman’s tenure ends after a 3-1 defeat by Liverpool at Selhurst Park dropped the club to bottom of the table for the first time since December 2017. Palace have won only two of their ten league matches this year and hold the worst defensive record in the division with 24 goals conceded. Their losing run stretches to four games, sparked by a humiliating 5-0 loss to Brighton last month that left Sage admitting he felt "shame" over his inability to stabilize the squad.
Internal Talks and Successor Hunt
The club hierarchy held internal talks to decide Sage’s future and identify a replacement, with Thomas Frank emerging as the primary candidate. Frank was dismissed by Tottenham in February but is keen for a new challenge after a successful spell at Brentford, where he previously managed effectively. Sean Dyche, the former Nottingham Forest boss, also has backers within the club and would be seen as a safe pair of hands given his vast experience in the Premier League. Vitor Pereira, another ex-Forest manager, remains an alternative option if the top two candidates fall through. Both Frank and Dyche are currently out of work and available to start immediately, which accelerates the recruitment process.
Sage signed a three-year contract in June after replacing Oliver Glasner, who departed following a trophy-laden season. However, injuries and squad departures undermined his plans significantly. Marc Guehi moved to Manchester City in January and Maxence Lacroix went to Chelsea in the summer, leaving Palace without their main central defenders. Loan signings Axel Disasi and Honest Ahanor failed to provide the necessary stability, while the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr due to fitness and personal issues further hampered performance. Sage denied his dream job had turned into a "nightmare" after the Liverpool match but acknowledged the need for investment. He stated, "We have to adjust some positions during the winter transfer window to give more solutions," signaling that squad changes are essential regardless of managerial changes.
Defensive Failings and Immediate Consequences
Palace’s defensive collapse is clearly the core issue, with set-piece goals proving fatal in recent defeats. Despite promising moments against Liverpool, the team hit the bar and had a goal ruled out, yet still fell short. The club sits 21st in the Europa League with just one win from four matches, compounding their domestic struggles. Sage’s side has taken only seven points from ten league games, a return that reflects poor tactical execution rather than bad luck alone. The patience of the board has worn thin despite Sage being at the helm for only 16 matches. If dismissed, he becomes the first manager sacked this season, highlighting the intense pressure in English football. Palace’s next fixture is at Coventry on 21 November, following a two-week international break. The incoming manager will face immediate challenges in rebuilding confidence and addressing the defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued the team all season.
