Pierre Sage’s Crystal Palace reign has begun with three defeats in four Premier League matches, and the team’s defensive numbers are already a major concern. Palace have faced the division’s highest expected goals against figure at 8.15, conceded 11 times, allowed 26 shots on target and given opponents 164 touches inside their penalty area — all league highs or joint-highs where applicable.
The disruption to Sage’s squad has been significant. Maxence Lacroix has moved to Chelsea, Daniel Munoz has joined Nottingham Forest and Chadi Riad suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the opening-day defeat by Everton. Palace are also still adjusting to the earlier departure of Marc Guehi. Axel Disasi, Takehiro Tomiyasu and 18-year-old Honest Ahanor are among the centre-back options now available, alongside Chris Richards and Jaydee Canvot, although Tomiyasu’s injury record and Ahanor’s lack of experience add to the uncertainty.
The defensive decline also predates Sage’s arrival. Palace have conceded at least twice in each of their last 10 league matches, a run that stretches back into Oliver Glasner’s time in charge. Only Fulham have recorded a longer sequence in Premier League history, conceding two or more goals in 13 consecutive games between January and April 2019.
Crosses and attacks from wide areas have been especially damaging. Palace have already allowed three open-play goals from crosses this season, compared with nine across their previous 76 matches in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns combined. Headed goals contributed to defeats against Everton, Manchester City and Ipswich Town, while opponents have repeatedly found space by passing beyond Palace’s aggressively positioned wing-backs and isolating a centre-back.
The problems have not been limited to the back three. Against Fulham, Chris Richards was drawn towards Josh King as the defensive shape opened up, while Adam Wharton failed to track Cesar Palacios’ movement for a rebound. At Ipswich, Daichi Kamada did not take over a marking assignment after Tyrick Mitchell moved towards Abdul Fatawu, creating another unpressured crossing opportunity. Palace’s midfield pairing has also offered limited protection in front of the defence, leaving the back line exposed.
Dean Henderson’s absence through an ankle injury has further removed an important safety net. Across the previous two full Premier League seasons, he ranked second only to Jordan Pickford for goals prevented, having kept out seven more goals than an average goalkeeper would have been expected to save. Sage has acknowledged that Palace need improvement both when pressing and when defending in a deeper block, but he has also stressed that the players must develop greater understanding as a unit.
A change in structure could be considered, including a 5-3-2 to give Palace more central protection. Jefferson Lerma could provide additional defensive cover in midfield, while Palace’s average possession of 41.6 per cent — the third-lowest figure in the league after four games — means they are spending long periods without the ball. Sage’s appointment was based partly on the similarity between his Lens system and Glasner’s Palace, but the new manager must now find a settled defensive selection and reduce the vulnerability that has followed the team into the new season.
