Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage finds himself at risk of losing his position, just five months into his tenure, as the club sits at the bottom of the Premier League heading into the international break.
Following Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool, Palace has now suffered four consecutive defeats in the league, managing to win only two of their ten matches this season.
The club has initiated internal discussions regarding Sage’s future and potential replacements. Among the candidates, former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank stands out, alongside ex-Nottingham Forest coach Sean Dyche, both of whom are currently without jobs and ready to step in immediately.
Crystal Palace’s performance has been disappointing, earning just seven points from their ten league games, while they also struggle with the worst defensive record, having conceded 24 goals. Additionally, they find themselves in 21st place in the Europa League, qualifying for a play-off spot with a single victory out of four matches.
If a decision is made to terminate his role, Sage could become the Premier League’s first managerial casualty of the season. He was appointed on a three-year contract in June, following Oliver Glasner’s departure at the conclusion of the last season.
After the defeat against Liverpool, the 47-year-old stated, “It’s not from the dream to the nightmare. I’m just in my job, and focusing on my job, and what I have to do to find the solution.” He acknowledged the need to improve their play, emphasizing the lack of results.
While Sage had previously led Lens to a strong finish in Ligue 1 and a historic Cup victory, he has struggled to emulate Glasner’s achievements at Palace. Under Glasner, the club secured its first FA Cup and Europa Conference League titles.
Palace has not won in the league since 11 October, with a steep decline in form following a significant 5-0 defeat to rival Brighton. Following that match, Sage expressed feelings of “shame” and uncertainty about his job security.
There remains some sympathy for him among club officials, attributed partly to injury woes and the unavailability of players like Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, whose issues stem from both fitness concerns and personal desires to leave the club.
Unfortunately, the situation worsened with three more league losses, including a match against Liverpool where Palace hit the bar and had a goal disallowed. “We have to be more competitive,” Sage remarked after the game. “At the moment, we create some opportunities, but we aren’t getting the results we need.”
Crystal Palace’s next challenge in the Premier League will take place at Coventry on 21 November after a two-week international hiatus.
