Rumour
Rumour
Crystal Palace manager question still open on Pierre Sage
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage is likely to lose his job following a seventh league defeat of the season, although the club has not yet taken a decision. Thomas Frank has emerged as a leading contender to replace him at Selhurst Park if Palace act.
Sage replaced Oliver Glasner in the summer and has taken Palace to the bottom of the Premier League. Frank, who was sacked by Tottenham earlier this year, was among the names the club considered before appointing Sage.
Other candidates on the Palace list
Sky Sports reports that Palace's interest extends beyond Frank. The other candidates the club is interested in are Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche, Vitor Pereira, Kim Hellberg, Vitor Matos and Tony Popovic.
Frank is expected to be among the frontrunners if, as anticipated, Palace decide to make a change. No approach has been confirmed and the club's position remains that nothing has been settled.
Frank's seven years at Brentford and short Spurs spell
Frank spent seven years at Brentford between 2018 and 2025, winning promotion to the Premier League and then establishing the club in the top flight, with a ninth-place finish in 2023.
He moved to Tottenham last season to replace Ange Postecoglou as head coach but was sacked after less than eight months, with the club 16th and five points above the relegation zone. Spurs sealed survival only on the final day, after Igor Tudor and Roberto De Zerbi had taken charge.
His Tottenham tenure was littered with setbacks, including drinking from a coffee cup carrying the badge of rivals Arsenal, and he failed to win over the club's supporters.
Carragher expects Palace to act
Speaking after Palace's 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool, Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher argued that the performance could not outweigh the results. He noted that Liverpool's goalkeeper had been the best player on the pitch.
"I think that would have been one of the best Crystal Palace performances this season. Liverpool won 3-1 away from home but their goalkeeper was their best player. That tells you how well Palace did."
Carragher added that an owner could not take the risk given the finances involved, pointing to Palace's 14 seasons in the Premier League and the expectation that they should not be bottom.
"I think the decision will be made, unfortunately for Pierre Sage. I think Palace will have a new manager the next time they play in the Premier League"
Sage points to finishing as the missing step
Sage said Palace started well and created chances before conceding from a set-piece with the consequence of a transition, and that Liverpool's speed made the second half harder. He framed the gap as one of efficiency rather than of structure.
"Football is about efficiency. If we create these chances, it's a good step. But the next step is to score. If not, it's as [if] you did nothing."
"I'm really frustrated, especially for the fans and the players, because I think we're able to do better."
What to watch
Analysis: The next firm signal is procedural rather than tactical. Palace have to decide whether to dismiss Sage at all; only then does the shortlist become a genuine contest, and only then does Frank's availability after his Tottenham sacking carry practical weight.
This report was first published by skysports.com.
