Pierre Sage, the former Ligue 1 manager of the year, finds himself under immense pressure as he leads Crystal Palace through a dismal start to the Premier League season. After a triumphant season with RC Lens, where he secured the Coupe de France and finished second in Ligue 1, Sage's fortunes have dramatically reversed since taking over at Palace in July.

Currently, Crystal Palace sits in the relegation zone, having lost their last three league matches without scoring and conceding nine goals. If they lose against Liverpool this Sunday, they could end up at the bottom of the table. Sage's tenure has been marked by a lack of scoring and a fragile defense, with the team possessing the worst defensive record in the league.

In his post-match comments after a defeat to Tottenham, Sage described the situation as "a disaster," pointing to the impact of key player departures, including Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, and the absence of Ismaila Sarr, who scored 21 goals last season.

Key issues include:

• Marc Guehi's sale to Manchester City without a replacement contributing to defensive woes.
• Failure to adequately replace departing talents, leaving the squad weakened.
• Adam Wharton's decline in form, exacerbated by the loss of attacking options.

Sage's tactical approach, which thrived at Lens, has not translated effectively at Palace, where a different style is needed. Despite being recognized as a talented coach, questions arise about whether he is the right fit for this struggling team. As Palace's performance continues to falter, the club faces a critical decision regarding Sage's future.