Crystal Palace will aim to respond to their late defeat by Ipswich when they visit Leeds United on Sunday, 20 September, with manager Pierre Sage insisting that league points must now be the priority.
The Eagles restored confidence in midweek by beating Lech Poznań 4-0 at Selhurst Park in their opening UEFA Europa League fixture. Sage welcomed that result, but stressed that Palace’s main weekly focus remains the Premier League after what he feels were missed opportunities against Everton and Ipswich.
Palace face a demanding test at Elland Road, where Sage expects a strong Leeds side and an intense atmosphere. He has watched Leeds against Chelsea and Newcastle and believes his players will need to recover quickly, prepare carefully and improve on their performance against Ipswich.
Ismaïla Sarr returned from the bench late in the victory over Lech Poznań. Sage indicated that the forward could possibly start in Yorkshire, although he does not expect him to be ready for the full 90 minutes. Sunday will be Palace’s final competitive match before a three-week international break.
Sage admitted he would have preferred to continue working with the squad, while acknowledging that the break will give some players the opportunity to represent their countries and others time to recover. Palace have several senior and academy players involved with national teams, but the manager also plans to use the period to build towards a possible friendly and prepare for the league meeting with Nottingham Forest on 11 October.
Dean Henderson is considered more likely than Jean-Philippe Mateta to return after the break, with Mateta’s recovery described as less certain. Sage said the club’s priority is to look after both players and give them the best chance of returning as soon as possible.
Adam Wharton has continued to wear the captain’s armband during Henderson’s absence, and Sage praised the midfielder’s leadership and performance against Lech Poznań. He highlighted Wharton’s ability to play forward quickly, find space behind the opposition defence and contribute more effectively when winning the ball, adding that the 21-year-old can continue to grow into the role. Palace now have the chance to end the pre-break schedule on a positive note by collecting points at Leeds.
