Crystal Palace on the Brink: Sage Faces the Axe as Frank Emerges as Top Contender

Crystal Palace is gearing up to dismiss Pierre Sage after their recent loss to Liverpool saw them drop to the bottom of the Premier League for the first time since December 2017. With Thomas Frank emerging as the frontrunner to take over, the pressure is mounting on Sage. Appointed in mid-June to replace Oliver Glasner, Sage has faced intense scrutiny following a heavy 5-0 defeat to Brighton last month. Unfortunately, things haven't improved, and the team has now faced four consecutive league losses. Under Sage's leadership, Palace has managed just two wins in their first ten Premier League outings, and their defensive woes have been alarming, with 24 goals conceded. While there were some bright spots during the 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Selhurst Park, recurring issues, especially with set-piece defending, remain unresolved. The patience of the club's higher-ups is reportedly wearing thin, even though Sage has only been in charge for 16 matches. It appears that Sage will become the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season, with Monday expected to mark the end of his tenure. The club is already looking to secure a replacement, with Frank, recently let go by Tottenham in February, having previously held talks with Palace this summer. He is now eager for a new opportunity after a successful run at Brentford. Sean Dyche, another former Nottingham Forest manager, has his supporters within the club, recognized for his extensive Premier League experience. Vítor Pereira, also a former Forest manager, could be another option in the mix. Sage had signed a three-year contract after his successful stint at Lens, where he won the Coupe de France and secured Champions League qualification in his final season. However, Palace has suffered significant setbacks, losing key central defenders Marc Guéhi to Manchester City and Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea. In response, they brought in loan signings Axel Disasi and young talent Honest Ahanor, but failed to land one of Sage’s top targets, Malick Fofana. Despite the Liverpool defeat, Sage dismissed the notion that his dream job had turned into a “nightmare.” He did hint, however, at the need for squad reinforcements in January, saying, “We have to adjust some positions during the winter transfer window to give more solutions.”