Pierre Sage insisted he wanted to remain Crystal Palace manager after Sunday’s 3–1 home defeat to Liverpool left his side bottom of the Premier League. The loss at Selhurst Park—not Anfield—was Palace’s fourth consecutive league defeat and left them with two wins from their opening 10 matches. It also marked the first time they had finished a completed round of Premier League fixtures in last place since December 2017.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sage expressed his determination to continue through the international break and into the forthcoming fixtures against Coventry City and Hull City. The Frenchman maintained his confidence in his ability to lead the team, although his future increasingly rests with chairman Steve Parish and the club’s hierarchy.
Palace’s performance against Liverpool offered more encouragement than the scoreline suggested. They created several first-half opportunities, struck the crossbar and forced Alisson Becker into important saves, while also having a goal ruled out for offside. Their inability to convert those chances proved costly: Liverpool established a three-goal advantage before Eddie Nketiah scored a stoppage-time penalty.
“Football is not about what you deserve, it’s about what you do and what level of efficiency you have,” Sage told BBC Match of the Day. “Today we missed too much because we created a lot of chances, especially first half.” His assessment reflected the contrast between Palace’s promising attacking moments and their failure to turn them into a result.
Defensive problems remain a central concern. Palace’s vulnerability at set pieces again contributed to their defeat, reinforcing a recurring weakness during Sage’s short tenure. With seven points from 10 games, the pressure extends beyond a single disappointing afternoon: Palace enter the international break needing an improvement in both penalty areas.
Frank and Dyche Emerge as Alternatives
Reporting later on Sunday indicated that Palace had held internal discussions about Sage’s future and possible successors. Former Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank emerged as a strong candidate, while Sean Dyche also had support within the club. Both were reported to be out of work and available to take over immediately.
By Sunday evening, The Athletic reported that Palace were set to dismiss Sage after 16 matches in charge. That remained a reported development rather than an official club announcement in the available coverage, but it substantially weakened the prospect of the manager receiving the additional time he sought.
Palace’s next league match is away to Coventry on November 21, followed by a home meeting with Hull on November 29. Those fixtures give the club an immediate opportunity to recover against teams near the bottom, but the question of continuity now rests with the board rather than Sage’s determination to stay.
