Numerous reports have emerged following Crystal Palace’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool that Pierre Sage’s future at Palace is unlikely to continue for much longer. Despite a positive performance in many aspects, Palace shipped simple goals in transitions, and are now rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, as the gap between those above them continues to grow. 

Palace appear to be stalling on a decision, but it is likely that Sage is sacked across the next couple of days at most, giving a new manager the international break to make things right. 

It looks as if Thomas Frank could come in and take control, but would a change in manager actually fix the problems Palace are facing this season, or do the real issues lay deeper than the man in charge?

There have been a number of factors that are not necessarily in Sage’s control, but at the same time, there have been areas of Palace’s performances which have shown no signs of improvement. 

Palace find themselves bottom of the Premier League table with seven points from their opening ten games, having conceded a staggering 24 goals, whilst scoring just one a game.

The defensive approach to set pieces has been poor all season, and Palace once again shipped the first goal against Liverpool as Alexis Mac Allister was unmarked and had a free header on goal. Sage’s approach to these set plays seems to be an attempt at zonal marking, but the consistent inability to win the first and second balls inside the box is a huge worry too. 

Similarly, in transitions, Palace are extremely vulnerable, and Liverpool found two second half goals by exploiting the high defensive line on the break. Those scenarios do come with a catch though, as when Palace conceded the strikes from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, they were taking the game to Liverpool in an attempt to find initially an equaliser before later a route back into the game. 

Simply put, Palace don’t have the profiles to be able to play a high line and recover. There’s a huge lack of pace in the back line, and the strengths of the back three that started against Liverpool shine through when they are defending their box, not playing inside the opponent’s half. 

The profiles just aren’t fitting to Sage’s style of play. And that’s where the focus naturally moves to the more uncontrollable problems that Sage has faced, notably the recruitment in the summer transfer window and the injury issues that continue to face the side to this day. 

Palace could hire anyone they like, but it won’t change the fact that until the January transfer window, they cannot make any signings. A recent press release via talkSPORTand Alex Crook stated that the ‘feeling within the CPFC hierarchy is that their squad is better than at least half a dozen others and therefore should not be bottom of the table.’

It would be interesting to know what the hierarchy means by this. If they are referring to Palace’s full squad with no injuries or suspensions taken into account, then sure, it’s not a wild thought. 

However, the reality is that Pierre Sage has been without Palace’s leading scorer from last season, Ismaïla Sarr, and had to face the best part of ten games in all competitions without club captain and number one goalkeeper Dean Henderson. 

Simultaneously, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been battling injury issues, and upon returning to the Premier League squad, was sent off and will now miss two huge games against Hull and Coventry after the international break. 

Palace were drawing with Ipswich when Axel Disasi was sent off, a game Palace went on to lose 3-2 courtesy of a last minute winner. With eleven men, that result could have been very different, and could have been the catalyst to stronger results in the following games. 

Sage was not backed adequately in the summer transfer window, and Palace wholeheartedly failed to replace Maxence Lacroix despite selling him for a bumper transfer fee early in the window. 

Ultimately, Palace’s squad is talented, but it’s also thin, and the majority of the talent within is in the first eleven players. When you have key players injured and suspended, there is little quality to turn to. 

That being said, it’s the job of a manager to make the most of the circumstances they find themselves in, and Sage hasn’t been able to do that. 

No matter who comes in to replace him if he is to be sacked, Palace will have no choice but to spend in January. It could be that by the time that window comes around, Palace are even further adrift from safety. Alternatively, a new manager could bring the momentum needed to earn some crucial wins over the next six weeks. 

The games against Hull and Coventry should have been games where Palace expected to win. Now, they are games that Palace simply must win.