Pierre Sage must unleash rarely-seen Crystal Palace player to keep his job

Sage faces the sack if Palace lose to Spurs on 31 October; the manager must recall winger Sarr and make tactical changes to save his job.

Pierre Sage is under intense pressure at Crystal Palace after just eight games in charge. The 47-year-old manager, who arrived from Lyon and Lens with strong win rates, faces a critical deadline: should the Eagles lose to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, 31 October, he will be relieved of his duties.

Palace's recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle has intensified the scrutiny, despite the team creating chances. The article argues Sage must make immediate tactical changes to turn things around. Key among these is recalling winger Ismaila Sarr to the starting lineup. Sarr scored 21 goals in all competitions last season but has barely featured this campaign, playing just 15 minutes in the Premier League and one Europa League start—a situation the article attributes partly to Liverpool's summer interest unsettling the player.

Other suggested changes include dropping midfielder Adam Wharton if he fails to improve, benching loan signing Axel Disasi, and potentially replacing goalkeeper Walter Benitez with Dean Henderson if fit. Palace face Fulham in the Carabao Cup before the pivotal Spurs fixture.