Crystal Palace consider replacing Sage with Frank among contenders

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage is facing significant pressure regarding his position after just five months in charge, with the team currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table during the international break. The club has initiated internal discussions to evaluate Sage's future and identify potential replacements following a 3-1 loss to Liverpool on Sunday.

This defeat marked the fourth consecutive league loss for the side, which has secured only two victories from 10 matches this season. With seven points earned and 24 goals conceded, Palace currently holds the poorest defensive record in the division. Furthermore, the club is placed 21st in the Europa League table, having won just one of their four fixtures.

Should he be sacked, the 47-year-old Frenchman would be the first managerial departure of the current Premier League campaign. Appointed in June on a three-year deal to replace Oliver Glasner, Sage has struggled to mirror his previous success at Lens, where he achieved a second-place Ligue 1 finish and a French Cup title.

Thomas Frank, formerly of Tottenham and Brentford, is considered a primary candidate for the role, while Sean Dyche, the ex-Nottingham Forest manager, also holds internal support. Both managers are currently unemployed and could take charge immediately. Palace has not won a league match since 11 October, a streak initiated by a 5-0 defeat to rivals Brighton.

Reflecting on the recent loss to Liverpool at Selhurst Park, Sage commented: "It's not from the dream to the nightmare. I'm not feeling this. I'm just in my job, and focusing on my job, and what I have to do to find the solution." He added: "The results are not at this level, and I know I have to push more on those things, especially in our way of playing, to make that move."

Despite challenges such as injuries and the unavailability of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr due to fitness and transfer-related concerns, the team has continued to struggle. Regarding the need for improvement, Sage stated: "We have to be more competitive. At the moment, we create some things, we expect a lot of things, but we don't have the results expected." Palace is scheduled to face Coventry on 21 November after the international break.