Crystal Palace

Crystal Palaces recent DNA is rooted in defensive stability. Predecessors Oliver Glasner and Roy Hodgson produced well-organised teams with a solid base for its attacking players.

Conceding close to 2.5 goals per game is so far removed from what the team's recent successes has been built upon that it has raised major concern from the club's powerbrokers.

Palace are currently on course to concede 92 goals this season. No club has conceded more since Sheffield United shipped 104 goals to finish bottom in 2024.

Personnel is contributing to those defensive deficiencies. Losing Guehi, Lacroix and Munoz in the space of six months represent significant losses.

From the three centre-backs that started in Sunday's 5-0 loss to Brighton, Jaydee Canvot is 20 years old and Honest Ahanor only 18.

Nevertheless, there is a clear sense from inside the club that Pierre Sage's system and approach has been a major contributing factor towards their troubles in defence.

There is a perception from sections of supporters that the club's summer defensive recruitment has not helped.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben Chilwell and Oscar Mingueza arrived on free transfers, while Axel Disasi and Ahanor arrived on loan.

As mitigation, it is understood Palace have encountered major difficulty in complying with Uefa's financial rules, leaving them hampered in the transfer market.

Trying to stay within Uefa's guidelines was among the reasons why the club sold Munoz to Nottingham Forest for £22m.

But those financial difficulties do not make the situation Sage finds himself any less critical.

With a Europa League trip to Besiktas and home Premier League game against Newcastle on the horizon, Sage has an opportunity to change the mood music.

Two positive results and the Frenchman will hope he can mount a more consistent upward trend.

Two defeats, however, and Palace may well feel that enough is enough.

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We asked if you agreed with Crystal Palace fan Ollie Thomas that the Eagles should consider a formation change if they want to avoid a relegation battle this season.

Here are some of your comments:

Lewis: Change the formation from 3-4-3, to maybe a 4-3-3. The three-man defence doesn't work.

Paul: Definitely agree we've looked vulnerable for a long tim. Change to a 4-3-3 please before we are in a relegation battle.

Dominic: Has to change the formation and strengthen midfield. Too many runners through midfield where we end up with five attackers against three defenders. Give whatever system we played at Leeds another go.

Jason: We need to make a few changes - formation and leadership. First, shore up the defence by changing to four at the back. Put in an extra midfielder to play a defensive role in front of the defence to help protect them. We need a leader on the pitch. As much as I like and respect Adam Wharton for his skill, he does not provide the leadership on the pitch we need.

Stephen: There is no wrong formation. I doubt whether any trainer would get a tune out of this squad. Our best two defenders left and they were replaced with Chelsea cast-offs and sick-notes. Pierre Sage, so far, hasn't been able to pick a stable defensive unit. That said, tactics using the basic formation seem wildly off attempting high pressing and exposing the defenders.

Colin: The manager should be able to make tactical adjustments, including formation changes, when circumstances dictate. Playing away to an in-form Brighton side is a case in point! I like that Sage is trying to play an expansive game, but we can't be doing that in every match. If he can't see that then he needs to go.

Has Pierre Sage taken on one of the most testing Premier League roles this summer?

That was a question posed by Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live, with consideration given to the stunning success the Eagles enjoyed under previous boss Oliver Glasner.

Crystal Palace fan Dan Cook told Monday Night Club: "It's definitely a fair point. There's a lot of goodwill towards Sage from the fanbase. I don't think it's one of those situations where any of us are banging the drum for him to go.

"But there comes a point when you look at it defensively, I think we have conceded 17 goals in seven Premier League games.

"We want it to work. From an attacking perspective we can score goals. But at the same time, if you are porous week after week and you have a squad that are bottom half really in terms of expectation, you can't be conceding two or three, and that's where that struggle comes in."

Watch a clip of the show above or listen in full on BBC Sounds

While no-one doubted that following in Oliver Glasner's footsteps as Crystal Palace manager would be a difficult task, Pierre Sage now finds his position under close scrutiny.

A string of poor results - most recently Sunday's 5-0 drubbing by Brighton - makes this week a crucial one in determining his future.

Sage has won just two of his opening seven Premier League games in charge, while the 17 goals they have conceded is the most in the league.

But there is a degree of sympathy from some behind the scenes at Selhurst Park that the Frenchman has been dealt a difficult hand.

Injuries have not been kind, while the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr - due to a mixture of fitness and personal issues, related to both players' desire to leave the club - has not helped the start of his reign.

Co-owner and chairman Steve Parish is not one to act on impulse. He resisted the temptation to act when Glasner publicly criticised the club's board for "abandoning" the team after the decision to sell Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January.

Glasner saw out his contract and added the Europa Conference League title to the FA Cup won the season before.

Not that Sage is out of the woods. With crucial games against Besiktas and Newcastle on the horizon, further poor results will leave Parish with a decision to make.

Some figures close to Palace believe the writing is already on the wall and, when the right replacement is in place, his short tenure will come to an end.

Read more from Sami on the story

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After Sunday's heavy defeat by Brighton, Crystal Palace fan Ollie Thomas says a change in formation should be the first priority to turn the club's fortunes around this season.

"Unless we can fix the defensive issues, I think we'll be in a relegation battle," he said.

"An easy start, for me, is to ditch the three at the back and go three in midfield to shore that up.

"Our back five is undercooked and the recruitment in the summer wasn't good enough. They are so exposed. Why we are exposing our weakest part of the pitch in every single game is totally beyond me."

Do you agree that the formation is the team's biggest issue, or does something else need to change?

Let us know here

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Kevin: Watching the game at home with my son, Josh, who commented, "blimey, it's like watching Barcelona". Summed it up rather well, I thought!

Alexander: What a time to be a Brighton fan. I'm one of only about 30 fans in our Scandinavian Brighton group on Facebook, but we are all ecstatic about this win. Surely only a matter of time until the continued success we are seeing will help grow the fanbase across Europe.

Mike: Electric. They chased down every ball - just like they did against Arsenal. A pure team performance.

Steve: Early days, but Fabian Hurzeler has the magic touch that the players are buying into. People are saying our squad depth will be a problem with Europe as well, but if he rotates properly and keeps everyone happy, this could be a defining season for Brighton. Hurzeler has his head screwed on. He won't be tempted by Manchester United yet, not while he's building something so special at Brighton. Tony Bloom recruits the right players, under the right manager, who plays the right system. Round pegs in round holes. It's brilliant and simple. Data analysis at its best.

Crystal Palace fans

Darren: The chickens have definitely come home to roost. Too many games, too many chances given to the opposition. We lack any defensive shape, and I'm sorry, but that's poor coaching. Pierre Sage needs to sort it out - quickly!

Ray: I feared we would be candidates for relegation right at the start of the season. Bad attitude in the camp where everyone half decent has been looking for a move away.

Terry: Sage needs more time, but Sunday and midweek is exactly why you cannot sell your two best centre-backs and not replace them with any experience or quality when you play a back three.

Adrian: Proper shocking. Sage has to change tactics and formation. We always give up an early chance. The defence is disorganised and the midfield needs help. We need leaders to grit their teeth and get about the opposition, and soon.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage said he felt "shame" about his side's performance during their 5-0 thrashing by Brighton - and he did not know whether he would be given time to save his job.

The Eagles conceded three times in the opening 10 minutes as they suffered their worst loss to their rivals since January 1956.

"It is my fault because I am the coach," said the Frenchman. "I give the motivation. I prepare the situations. We played so bad, it is my fault.

"It is difficult to summarise because there are a lot of negative points.

"But I prepare the team, so that's why I am responsible for what's happened on the pitch. I have a lot of work to do because I have to change this kind of thing."

When asked if he will get time to turn Crystal Palace's poor form around, he replied: "I don't know."

Sage has had a tough start at Selhurst Park, after guiding Lens to the French Cup and second in Ligue 1 last season.

The Eagles are 14th in the Premier League, with two wins from seven games, but their 17 goals conceded is the most in the top flight.

"I just want to apologise to the fans," Sage added. "We weren't at the level we expected and I'm really sorry for that because I know how important it is for them."

Read the full article here

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage told BBC Sport: "Only one feeling - shame. When you play this kind of game you have to show another face. It was our worst face.

"We cannot accept that, especially at the beginning of the game. We didn't fight at this moment. Once it was 3-0 after nine minutes, the game is really different.

"Especially in the way we don't understand in which context we were. In this kind of game you need different ingredients. It's my fault because I am the coach, I gave the angle to the players. I gave the motivation. I prepare the situations. We played so badly. It's my fault.

"I don't want to speak really individually or thinking about details. I have to analyse what's happened to take a decision.

"At this moment, once the score is [large difference], it's easier to play. It's about bravery. We have to deal with these things from the beginning of the game."

On his message to the fans: "I'm really sorry because we didn't give them what they deserved. I apologise because we are not Palace today."

Did you know?

• Crystal Palace have conceded 17 goals across their opening seven Premier League matches, with the Eagles last conceding more at this stage of a season in the top four tiers in 1980-81 (21).

• This was Fabian Hürzeler's very first victory over Crystal Palace (5th meeting), with Leicester City the only one of 29 opponents that he has failed to beat across all competitions as Brighton and Hove Albion manager (P2 D2).

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The five goals conceded mean Crystal Palace have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, with 17 goals against from only seven matches.

A poor first half cost them on Thursday when they lost 3-2 in France against Lyon in France in the Europa League having gone 2-0 behind in the first half.

But manager Pierre Sage could not have expected his side to capitulate so tamely in one of the most important matches of the season for their supporters.

It was a tough afternoon for the Palace defence, with 18-year-old central defender Honest Ahanor, on loan from Atalanta, substituted after 53 minutes on his second Premier League start.

One bright point was the return of France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, making his first appearance of the campaign since getting injured on the opening weekend in the 2-0 loss at Everton.

Captain Adam Wharton summed up the feelings in the Palace camp when he said: "We couldn't have started any worse. Nowhere near good enough from every single one of us, from start to the end of the game.

"We've had a couple of slow starts and we're not intentionally doing that and we have to sort it out."

Both Brighton and Palace are back in European action on Thursday. Brighton are in the Czech Republic against Jablonec in the Conference League, while the Eagles will be looking to quickly move on from this dreadful display, but face a tough-looking trip to Turkey to take on Besiktas in the Europa League.

Sage only came to the Eagles in the summer, replacing the departing Oliver Glasner, but will be facing huge pressure if Palace cannot quickly improve on a woeful day for the club and its fans.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Bournemouth v Sunderland

• Brighton v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Leeds United v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

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I am not quite sure how Crystal Palace beat Nottingham Forest last week, because Forest had some incredible chances.

I don't see the Eagles getting anything here, though, because Brighton are absolutely flying at the moment.

The Seagulls showed great resilience to hold on at 1-0 with 10 men in their win against Sunderland last week and ended up scoring a second goal right at the end too.

Again, both teams play in Europe on Thursday so they will have to find the right balance with their team selections - but I don't see it affecting Brighton any more than it will Palace.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match (14:00 BST), as Brighton host Crystal Palace seeking a record-equalling fourth consecutive Premier League win.

Seagulls soaring on all fronts

There is simply no stopping Brighton right now. Thursday's 4-0 win over Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris was their fifth consecutive victory, with the Seagulls scoring 17 goals and conceding just two during that run.

Not even a controversial red card for defender Pascal Struijk, subsequently rescinded, could derail them at Sunderland last weekend. Albion played the final half-hour on Wearside with 10 men but still secured a 2-0 victory, sealed by Jaouen Hadjam's stoppage-time strike.

They are now on the cusp of equalling a club record by winning four consecutive Premier League games and can do so without conceding a goal for the first time.

Third-placed Brighton have made a habit of starting strongly in recent years. This is the fourth time in six seasons they have collected at least 13 points at this stage of a campaign, with only Arsenal and Manchester City having done so more often.

The challenge for boss Fabian Hurzeler is to maintain that momentum while managing the additional demands of the Conference League. It may help that opponents Crystal Palace were also in European action on Thursday and, unlike the Seagulls, played away.

Squad depth could prove crucial in the coming months, and Jack Hinshelwood's midweek return from injury, coupled with Georginio Rutter's brace, provided an encouraging reminder of the resources at Hurzeler's disposal.

Defensive issues persist for Palace

Crystal Palace claimed their first Premier League home win under Pierre Sage last weekend and are now seeking back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time since December 2025.

The Eagles rode their luck against Nottingham Forest, allowing their opponents eight opportunities that Opta defines as "big chances". It was only the second time in 13 years that a Premier League side had conceded so many clear-cut openings and still won.

Sage acknowledged that goalkeeper Walter Benitez had kept Palace in the game with several important saves. "I have to congratulate him because when you play as number two, it's always difficult," he said.

The Argentine, who is deputising for the injured Dean Henderson, could not prevent his side from losing 3-2 to Lyon on Thursday and is likely to be kept busy again at Amex Stadium.

Palace have faced 108 shots with a combined expected goals value of 12.8, both Premier League highs after six matches.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sage "doesn't know" if Dean Henderson is available to play and will decide after training later on Friday.

• When asked if Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ben Chilwell or Takehiro Tomiyasu have a chance to return, the Palace boss responded: "Potentially. I said the same thing one or two games ago and it wasn't the case. I prefer to wait. At the moment, we hope, we expect, but we don't know."

• On Thursday's Europa League defeat by Lyon: "The bad result was a consequence of the first half. We didn't play and gave all the initiative to Lyon. I was frustrated because we reacted positively [in the second half] but too late."

• On the rivalry between Palace and Brighton: "I know the fans don't like this name [the M23 derby] because it is too far to name it this. We know it is a big game for the club and the fans, and we have to show our better phases, like the second halves of our last two games."

• He added: "On the first day I came here, the first thing they told me was that. In the last few days I've read a lot of articles about the rivalry to understand why. When you have something special, you have to do a special game."

• When asked if the Eagles are being left out of the 'Bermuda triangle' name given to Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth: "We don't have to analyse that now, we don't speak about that. The club won titles with this strategy and we have to be confident in the board and how they choose and keep players. It's our identity."

• Comparing Ligue 1 and the Premier League, Sage said England's "average level is higher" and "every game is difficult."

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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa League game between Lyon and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Garry: As has been the case all season, our defending is really poor, individually and as a team. The flip side is we are quite good offensively at times, so we can stay in games, but unless a change of tactics happens, we are going to have to outscore teams to win. I don't think the Pierre Sage ball will work, and we will lose many more than we win. Difficult and frustrating season ahead and serious jeopardy involved.

Al: Another game of two different halves. Poor first half and again conceding an early goal, which is becoming a bad habit. Consistency is an issue and defensive frailties continue.

James: Lacking leadership at the back, it's as simple as that. We need Dean Henderson back, and to prioritise an experienced centre-back in January. We showed great spirit to pull two back and it probably should have been a draw, with the chances (and the not-given penalty) at the end.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve: If only Palace started the first half like the second. A much better display deserved a point at the very least. Palace always looks like conceding whenever the opposition attacks. Too much space behind the wing-backs. A back three that makes too many mistakes, and lacks pace. Sage must sort out these deficiencies sooner rather than later.

Fred: Something has to give with these defenders because, at the moment, it's comical at times. However, there are definitely green shoots and hopefully it will click at both ends of the pitch soon. I'm just worried Sage won't be given enough time. That said, we didn't embarrass ourselves, gave it a really good go, and I'm proud of them.

Dave: Palace started poorly but grew into the game. I think we deserved a point at the end. But the referee has played a big part in our downfall. So many poor decisions throughout the game.

Image source, Getty Images

Pierre Sage spoke to Uefa after Crystal Palace's defeat against Lyon: "It's a very disappointing return because we lost. I can't take satisfaction from coming back home or seeing familiar faces when the result isn't there.

"The scoreline may have been close, but there was a big difference in the way the two teams played.

"We improved considerably after the break and gave ourselves a chance, but conceding that third goal made things difficult.

"I think our second-half efforts deserved an equaliser, although winning would have been a generous reward given that we only really played (to our level) for one half."

Did you know?

Since the start of last season, only Chelsea, among Premier League sides, have conceded more goals from corners in all competitions (19) than Crystal Palace (16, level with West Ham).

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace were backed by 3,000 fans in Lyon, but, despite an improved performance in the second half, left empty handed in the club's first ever away Europa League tie.

The Eagles nearly snatched a draw in the 90th minute but Chris Richards' header following Wharton's corner was well saved by home goalkeeper Dominik Greif and will be feeling they should have gained at least a draw in France.

This match was one of the stand-out ties for the Eagles supporters when the draw was made. After the club won the FA Cup for the first time in 2025, that achievement should have earned Palace a place in the 2025-26 Europa League.

However, the Eagles were demoted to the third-tier Conference League because then co-owner John Textor was also the majority owner of Lyon.

The American sold his share in Palace and left his leadership role with Lyon that summer. But European football's governing body Uefa said Lyon, as they had finished higher in their domestic league, would stay in the Europa League, with Palace dropping to the Conference League.

Palace then won the Conference League to earn their spot back in the Europa League for 2026-27.

Pierre Sage managed at Lyon for 14 months but his current Palace side were left rueing a slow start as they offered little as an attacking force in the opening half, with the hosts looking comfortable at 2-0.

Palace were the better side after the break and got one back through Yeremy Pino and had chances to make it 2-2.

Lyon's third goal then came against the run of play and although Daichi Kamada scored soon after to set up a thrilling finish, it was not enough.

The Eagles play at rivals Brighton on Sunday before returning to Europa League action when they travel to Turkey to face Besiktas next Thursday.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies