Crystal Palace

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Crystal Palace's discussions with Thomas Frank are understood to have reached the closing stages amid growing hope that a deal can be struck before the start of next week when players start trickling back from international duty.

The Eagles believe Thomas Frank is the man to lead the club away from relegation trouble.

The club have explored other options, with former Everton and Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche and Toulouse manager Jens Berthel Askou among them.

But Frank is viewed as the overwhelming favourite to replace Pierre Sage, whose failure to instil defensive robustness to the team was a key factor in his sacking.

Danish coach Frank has been out of work since being dismissed by Tottenham in February and decided over the summer not to take a job in the close season.

In recent weeks, it is understood Fulham have taken an interest in Frank's situation amid some uncertainty over Alvaro Arbeloa's future.

But the Whites' results have picked up and Palace have made their move.

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Football writer Tom Allnutt from The Times says Thomas Frank "makes sense" as Crystal Palace's next manager following Pierre Sage's dismissal.

"Look at Palace under Sage, struggling with set-pieces and in defence to not concede soft goals," Allnutt told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"We know they have sold so many good players and so far I don't think they have really replaced them adequately."

Allnutt said Frank's reputation has "definitely taken a hit in terms of whether or not he can do it with the big clubs", but added: "I still think this is one of the most pedigreed managers in terms of the more middling Premier League teams.

"If you want someone to go in and restore some stability and defensive solidity while improving the set-piece element of the team, then he is the perfect man for the job."

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We asked for your views on Pierre Sage's departure from Selhurst Park and the prospect of Thomas Frank replacing him.

Here are some of your comments:

James: I feel sorry for Sage. Expectations were high but when we sold our key players and left unrest amongst the others the future looked under threat. Thomas Frank may be a better fit as his Brentford defensive record would be precisely what the Eagles need. Our squad needs far more quality and depth. The January window is crucial.

Gary: It's a shame he's gone but he was dealt a bad hand by the board and he played it even worse. I really think the job was too big for him and he has left us in a very poor situation.

Peter: A self-made tragedy. Sage saw an experienced defence replaced with novices. Zonal marking was his Achilles heel. If we get Frank, he'll need a stable, supportive environment to succeed. Does that exist at Selhurst Park?

Al: The board did not support Sage, instead they sold big and the transfer plan was haphazard. This is coupled with Sage's inability to change tactics to quell the defensive issues. Is Frank the best replacement? Only time will tell. The board needs to support the new manager but I suspect the sporting director should also go as he has shown poor decision making over transfers out and in.

Sean: It's a real shame about Sage, I think he had us attacking really well, but we just seem incapable of scoring with the current personnel up top. However, we are currently in free-fall and cannot defend for toffee. Relegation definitely is/was the likely outcome.

Pedro: We've been here before, so hopefully can bounce back. Sage, despite being let down, was defensively inept, with zonal marking a disaster. Get Frank in and give him some proper support and a calm, structured environment.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is in advanced talks over taking over at Crystal Palace.

Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Liverpool was their fourth successive loss in the Premier League, with Pierre Sage's side having won just two of their 10 league matches this season.

Crystal Palace are without a win in the league since 11 October, with their losing run sparked by a 5-0 loss to fierce rivals Brighton. They also hold the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 24 goals in 10 games.

The Eagles are also 21st in the Europa League table, with only one win from their four matches so far.

Sage was appointed on a three-year contract in June after Oliver Glasner departed at the end of last season.

The Frenchman had previously led Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and a first French Cup triumph in their 120-year history.

However, he has been unable to replicate Glasner's success at Selhurst Park. Glasner, who now manages Nottingham Forest, led the club to a first FA Cup title and a Conference League triumph.

After the Brighton defeat, Sage said that he felt "shame" from the result and admitted he did not know if he would be given the time to turn their fortunes around.

However, there was a degree of sympathy from some behind the scenes at Selhurst Park in the immediate aftermath.

Injuries were not kind to his plans, 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 - did not help the start of his reign.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after just five months in charge, with the club bottom of the Premier League.

Thomas Frank, the former Brentford and Tottenham boss, is in advanced talks over taking over.

Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Liverpool was their fourth successive loss in the Premier League, with Sage's side having won just two of their 10 league matches this season.

Palace are also 21st in the Europa League, with only one win from their four matches so far.

• Get in touch with your views on Sage and Frank

Palace also have the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 24 goals in 10 games.

In a statement the club said: "Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Pierre Sage has left his role as manager.

"Three members of Pierre's coaching staff – Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard – have also left the club.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Pierre and his staff for their efforts during their time in South London, and wish them well for the future.

"An update on the process of appointing a new manager will be provided in due course."

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Crystal Palace fan Luke Weaser-Seychell from the Let's Talk Palace podcast "wanted the project to work" under Pierre Sage, who is in serious danger of losing his job, but feels potential incoming boss Thomas Frank could provide a "new manager bounce".

Speaking to BBC Radio London Total Sport, Weaser-Seychell said: "I'm someone who really wanted Sage to work and really wanted the project to work. But, sometimes, if you're just seeing the same thing happening every week and seeing the players drop off, the easiest person to let go is the manager."

On potential new manager Frank getting the best out of the existing players: "[Ismaila] Sarr is supposed to be back after the international break, [Jean-Philippe] Mateta sadly misses two games. If Frank does a midfield three I think that will massively help [Adam] Wharton, who has basically been having to do a two-man job at points this season in what is required of him.

"Maybe Frank is just the new manager bounce that these sort of players need. If we get them all back and firing then there should be no fears of relegation."

Hit play below to hear more or listen on BBC Sounds here

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With under-pressure Pierre Sage's likely departure from Selhurst Park, Chris Hambling from the Back of the Nest podcast admits the French manager has failed to "get his team playing together".

However, he also feels sorry for the "unlucky" head coach, who has had "a lot to deal with" at the club since joining.

When asked if Oliver Glasner's departure from the club last summer was a "red flag" for the incoming Sage, Hambling said: "We're in a weird situation as a club where we've had unprecedented success, but that doesn't mean we're able to compete financially and reputationally at the highest level, and that is why we lose our players when they're outstanding.

"Replacing them has become a science now and we've done pretty well in the past. But, if you get a couple of them wrong at Crystal Palace, it doesn't necessarily matter who you bring in to replace an outgoing manager - [that is] a red flag.

"If you want to focus on one specific thing, how the club is definitely something we need to run as a fanbase and the club itself. They need to think about their recruitment strategy, which seems to have gone off the boil.

"On the football, pure and simply, the manager's job is to get a team playing better than the sum of its parts. That is how you win the FA Cup, Community Shield and a first European trophy."

Listen to more by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Micky van de Ven was "fortunate not to have suffered a debilitating injury" from a challenge by Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, a Football Association regulatory commission has said.

Mateta was sent off for the foul, which came in the 13th minute of the Eagles' 2-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 31 October.

The France international was initially shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver, which was upgraded to red after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Palace's appeal was turned down by the regulatory commission last week, with the written reasons now published.

The verdict of the three members of commission was unanimous, with strong feelings about the nature of the foul.

In their evidence, Palace argued that "their player's challenge was controlled, directed solely at winning the ball, and did not involve excessive force, brutality, or any action that endangered the safety of his opponent".

The South London club also believed that Van de Ven's movement was a contributory factor, and the VAR review was unnecessary because Oliver had "the best evidence of the true speed and intensity of the challenge".

In reaching its judgement, the commission said that Mateta "reached for the ball with a lunging action along the ground with a straight leg and his studs showing" which caught the Netherlands international "with gathering momentum".

In the written reasons, it was added: "The commission did not accept that the player's contact with his opponent was because of his opponent's movement and, if anything, felt the opponent was fortunate not to have suffered a debilitating injury."

It also said there was "no circumstances this incident could in any way be deemed truly exceptional" to reduce the suspension from three matches.

Mateta missed Sunday's home loss to Liverpool, and will also sit out the upcoming games against Coventry City and Hull City.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Crystal Palace are propping up the Premier League table having lost their past four league matches, but the stats suggest their position is far from terminal.

In total, 14 teams have stayed up having been bottom of the table at this point in the season - most recently Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024-25.

Moreover, the fewest points a team has had after 10 games and stayed up at the end of the season is three.

That same Wolves team are the most recent of the four teams to have achieved that feat.

Sunderland, who climbed off the foot of the table with victory over Chelsea, had just four points at this stage in 2013-14 but still ended up finishing 14th.

Palace can also count themselves a little unfortunate to have amassed seven points and find themselves in 20th.

Only Bolton Wanderers in 2002-03 have had more points (eight) after 10 games and been bottom - and that was in a situation when a number of other sides had played 11 matches.

Overall, 88 teams have previously had seven or fewer points after 10 Premier League games and 37 managed to stay up.

Read more here

Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche are widely viewed as potential candidates should Pierre Sage be sacked by Crystal Palace, but Toulouse manager Jens Berthel Askou is also rumoured to be on their shortlist too.

The Danish manager, who joined the French club from Motherwell in the summer, has his side sitting 12th in Ligue 1 after 10 games.

"It's the wrong time for him to go in," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "In terms of the way he wants to play and how expansive he is, I don't think it's the right move for him or for Palace when you are a quarter of a way through the season.

"If you brought him in over the summer and he has time to build then it would work, but you have the likes of Sean Dyche who is ready to go in and organise.

"I wouldn't want to see Berthel Askou go in and rip up the way he works just to keep Palace in the Premier League."

Listen to the full discussion on Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes Crystal Palace "have to" make a managerial change during the international break and bring in a more "pragmatic" manager to re-organise the team.

Current boss Pierre Sage is under increasing pressure with Palace sitting bottom of the Premier League table having won just two of their 10 league matches this season.

"It's often the best time to take a job when a club is at rock bottom," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "Palace only conceded 51 goals last season yet have conceded 24 already this season so that is alarming.

"Pierre Sage could quite rightly argue that the players they lost haven't been replaced in terms of like-for-like quality, but their biggest issue is that they are leaking goals.

"They have to make the change and get in someone who is a bit more pragmatic. Sean Dyche and Thomas Frank are regarded as real organisers and pragmatic.

"Palace fans are a pretty loyal bunch, but I think the overall feeling is that if Sage stays on then there is a really good chance they get relegated because of the goals that they are conceding.

"They are not cut adrift because in this Premier League you can get a couple of wins and move up the table so it is still a decent job [to take]."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Joe: Don't know what to say. Look good going forward, can't score. Three chances and three goals for them. I feel for Pierre Sage and the hand he has been dealt, but he must be able to get this team to be more defensive! I like him but it does feel like right manager, wrong time.

Paul: It's ironic that Sage is likely to be sacked after our best performance of the season, especially in the first half. Even a new manager is not keeping us up this season.

Steve: Defending doesn't seem to be high on Sage's priority list. While Palace played some nice football in patches, there was an inevitability about the scoreline. Sage seems completely unable to stop opposing teams driving through the defence like a knife through butter. This can't go on. Sadly, Sage's reign should surely come to an end, before it is too late.

Bob: We deserved to be bottom of the table in our previous games, but not with this performance. We played some very attractive football against Liverpool, but it's goals that win you the game. I'm always the first to criticise the Palace, but their football really impressed me and the defence also looked more solid. Axel Disasi and Tyrick Mitchell were outstanding. Please don't get rid of Sage yet as the whole team is working for him.

Liverpool fans

Jack: Great to see us playing well, especially after a disappointing past two games. Florian Wirtz looked really good and that goal and assist will do him the world of good. Alexander Isak continuing to thrive which is excellent to see. I am getting frustrated with Bradley Barcola's lack of goals but he's providing assists and his pace is exceptional on the counter. Alisson was amazing as well and was ridiculously unlucky to not keep a clean sheet. Well done Liverpool, keep it going when we face Manchester United please.

Paul: Liverpool are not going to win the league or the Champions League but there are some promising signs. I'd written off Alexis Mac Allister last season and assumed he was on his way out, but his return to top form is like getting a new signing and I love what I'm seeing from Trey Nyoni. He only came on for the last quarter but even then made a difference with forward passes, not sideways. Early days but could become a jewel in this Liverpool team.

Sam: I was starting to wonder if Alisson still has it, but if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have won this game. I still think there's so much more to come from this team and really excited for what's to come if they find their groove.

Reece: Thought we played really well. After a disappointing result against Fenerbahce, we needed to win this. Good in possession, solid defensively, and very quick in the counter attacks. Took our goals really well. Unfortunate to concede late on, for me, was never a penalty. But all in all, a much better performance and result.

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The defeat against Liverpool will be the end of Pierre Sage's time at Crystal Palace, says fan Ollie Thomas.

The French manager has won just two of his 10 opening Premier League games as the Eagles sit bottom of the table on seven points.

Ollie told BBC Sport: "I've said so many times 'Pierre Sage's days are numbered, how long has he got left?'

"But this this will be the end of him I think, it has to be,"

"I think these players are being made to look a lot worse than they are. A lot of of fans have decided the whole squad is useless, that the whole thing is a waste of time and no manager will come in and succeed but I don't buy that narrative.

"I think a defensively sturdy manager keeps us up but if we don't change anything and Sage is still the manager going into November and December time, I'll be happy for him because I like him as a bloke and would love it to work but I think we will go down if that happens."

Listen to Ollie's full reflection here

Hear more from Ollie: "Sage has been dealt a tough hand"

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage is in serious danger of losing his job only five months into his reign, with the club bottom of the Premier League going into the international break.

Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Liverpool was Palace's fourth successive league loss, with Sage's side having won just two of their 10 league matches this season.

The club have held internal talks aimed at deciding Sage's future and his potential successor.

Former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank is viewed as a strong candidate, while ex-Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche also has some support internally.

Both are out of work and would be available to start immediately.

• Read more from Sami

Discussing what's going wrong on Match of the Day, pundit Dion Dublin said: "It's a horrible place to be when you're trying everything but nothing is working. You're not scoring and you're not organised at the back and it's tough.

"They have been dismantled and lost a lot of quality players from the first team who made a difference defensively or going forward. When you lose quality like that then you are going to struggle."

Leon Osman added: "They are a shadow of themselves at the minute. This doesn't look like a team that has won anything over the last few seasons.

"I'm not seeing a way out for them."

Palace have taken just seven points from their 10 league matches and have the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 24 goals.

If he is dismissed, Frenchman Sage could become the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season.

Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town are ready to rival Everton in their pursuit of former Italy Under-21 forward Kelvin Yeboah, 26, who has scored 18 goals in 32 games this season for MLS side Minnesota United. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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Things are looking bleak for Palace as the second international break of the season arrives.

Following FA Cup and Conference League winner Glasner was always going to be a huge task for Sage, but few would have expected Palace to be sitting at the bottom of the table.

But if Sage's time in south London is to come to an end, then he may count himself unfortunate.

Last time out, Palace had to battle away at Tottenham with 10 men for nearly 80 minutes when Jean-Philippe Mateta was shown a red card before slumping to a 2-0 loss.

And now he will wonder how his side did not find the back of the net until the 95th minute against Liverpool, with Alisson being made to work throughout.

But once the opening goal went in for the visitors, Palace heads dropped, the stadium fell silent and it felt as though Liverpool could score as many as they wanted.

There was soft applause from the Palace fans as Sage made his way down the tunnel at full-time - but will he be in charge when they take on Coventry City on 21 November?