Crystal Palace manager Sage believes the team’s difficult start to the season can become an opportunity for personal and collective improvement. The Eagles sit 17th in the league with seven points after a difficult run of results.
Palace have lost their last two league matches without scoring, suffering a 5-0 defeat against rivals Brighton and Hove Albion before a 2-0 loss to Newcastle United. Their midweek Carabao Cup victory over Fulham offered some relief, with the 1-0 result sending them through to the quarter-finals.
Sage described the upcoming meeting with Tottenham Hotspur as being comparable to a final as Palace seek to carry that cup success into the Premier League. He acknowledged that results remain the priority but said the current situation was forcing him to reassess his ideas, adapt his approach and make the right decisions for the players.
Tottenham have also moved up to 14th after a difficult opening, ending a six-match wait for a victory by beating Coventry City and then Chelsea. James Maddison is expected to be available for the match after appearing to suffer a problem during the win over Chelsea.
Spurs have also been strengthened by the return of Dejan Kulusevski, who missed 526 days with a knee injury sustained against Palace during the 2024-25 season. Kulusevski said his rehabilitation had given him confidence in the strength of his knee and praised manager Roberto de Zerbi and his staff after returning to action.
