Jump To:The CoachKey Player (and Top Scorer)Last Season's ResultsLessons From Last YearMost Likely To...Least Likely To...View From The StandsFixturesTitle OddsFFT VerdictCopy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIs it time to wake up yet? Winning three cups in 12 months was beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Crystal Palace fan, but the Eagles have developed a taste for trophies and their appetite isn't satiated yet despite Oliver Glasner's exit.The mastermind behind those FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League triumphs has left the club after a glorious two and a half years.His replacement, Pierre Sage, has a lot to live up to. Collecting yet more silverware won't be easy, but fans want the club to throw everything at the Europa League. English sides have won the past two editions of Europe's secondary competition. Why not Crystal Palace this time?Can Crystal Palace live up to their recent major trophy-winning standards? 2026-27 season previewIdeally, that wouldn't come at the expense of a top-half Premier League finish, which Palace have achieved just twice since their 2013 promotion.If so, Sage will need more depth and rotation options across the pitch. They sat fifth in December before their workload caught up with them. You may like Brighton staggered to the Conference League qualification finish line last season, but will they enjoy the fruits of their labour? Brighton 2026-27 season preview Bournemouth have waved goodbye to Andoni Iraola, but will they continue to build upon the fine work he laid down? - Bournemouth 2026-27 season preview Coventry City fought valiantly to make it back to the Premier League, but will surviving the drop prove to be an even greater task? - Coventry City 2026-27 season preview Quantity has a quality of its own. Recruitment is the key. Palace have unearthed numerous gems in recent years, turning Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton from Championship prospects into established internationals.But the jury is out on Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen, signed for a combined �78m in January. A club with Palace's budget can't afford to be wasteful.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The CoachPalace swiftly turned to Pierre Sage after Andoni Iraola chose Liverpool (strange).In 2025-26, he led Lens to second in Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory with a Glasner-like 3-4-3. PSG's Luis Enrique said, It's the first time since I've been here that a side has given us so much trouble.Key Player (and Top Scorer)Ismaila Sarr's 21 goals in all competitions made him the first Palace player to hit 20 at the highest level since Andy Johnson in 2004-05. What to read next Unai Emery's Europa League champions are the most likely non-Big 6 side to disturb the Premier League title race - Aston Villa 2026-27 season preview Can Xabi Alonso turn the Premier League's greatest financial underachievers into champions? Chelsea 2026-2027 season preview Mikel Arteta is under a very different pressure to go and win it all over again, while new managers have been installed at every other Big Six' outfit FourFourTwo's 2026-27 Arsenal season preview At age 28, Sarr is at the peak of his powers: intelligent, versatile and deadly, with a knack for finding space in dangerous positions.Last Season's ResultsCONFERENCE LEAGUE: Winners (1-0 vs Rayo Vallecano)PREMIER LEAGUE: 15thFA Cup: Third Round (2-1 loss vs Macclesfield)League Cup: Quarter-finals (1-1, 8-7 Penalties loss vs Arsenal)Lessons From Last YearTake your chances. Only Burnley and Wolves scored fewer than Palace's 41 goals in 2025-26. Yet the Eagles ranked ninth for shots inside the box and eighth for xG, above top-eight finishers Brighton, Sunderland and Aston Villa.Palace underperformed their expected goals more than any other team. An improved record at Selhurst Park would be welcome, too.With only four wins there, Palace picked up fewer points at home than they did on the road. Sage must make Selhurst Park a fortress again.Most Likely To...Double-check their emails. After being kicked out of last season's Europa League for missing a vital UEFA memo about multi-club ownership, Palace will have their eyes peeled on their inbox.Least Likely To...Meet a deadline. The Eagles announced plans for an enlarged Main Stand in 2017 and targeted completion within three years, but spades have only just entered the ground. Palace are in danger of making HS2 look like a rush job.View From The StandsWords by: JACK PIERCE @FYPFanzineLast season was all about the Conference League. Our league form took a back seat as focus turned to winning another trophy. It has become a habit.The big talking point is how we'll move on from the most successful manager in our history. Glasner changed the club culture completely. But Sage brought success to Lens last season, too.I won't be happy unless I see Palace at San Siro. Is it more surprising Crystal Palace are in the Europa League, or that Milan are?Our key player will be Jorgen Strand Larsen, if Sage can get a tune out of him. Our record signing has shown glimpses since he arrived in January.Look out for our French central defender Jaydee Canvot. The teenager had a superb first campaign and will go to the highest stage in years to come.The opposition player who grinds my gears is Jordan Henderson, for the incessant whining and for nicking Adam Wharton's seat on the flight to the World Cup. It's a scandal.The opposition player I'd love here is Hayden Hackney. The best player in the Championship last season could and should have followed the road trodden by Eze, Olise and Wharton.The best thing about matchdays at our ground is seeing how many away fans love the Wilfried Zaha mural.We'll finish away from danger, but I'm concerned that we'll struggle to find the right balance between our Premier League and European form again.FixturesAUGUST22 Everton (A)29 Man City (H)SEPTEMBER5 Fulham (A)12 Ipswich (H)19 Leeds (A)OCTOBER10 Nott'm Forest (H)17 Brighton (A)24 Newcastle (H)31 Tottenham (A)NOVEMBER7 Liverpool (H)21 Coventry (A)28 Hull City (H)DECEMBER2 Chelsea (A)5 Aston Villa (A)12 Man United (H)19 Sunderland (A)26 Arsenal (H)30 Bournemouth (H)JANUARY2 Brentford (A)6 Chelsea (H)16 Liverpool (A)23 Tottenham (H)30 Hull City (A)FEBRUARY6 Coventry (H)10 Brentford (H)20 Bournemouth (A)27 Sunderland (H)MARCH3 Arsenal (A)13 Fulham (H)20 Ipswich (A)APRIL10 Everton (H)17 Man City (A)24 Man United (A)MAY1 Aston Villa (H)8 Nott'm Forest (A)15 Brighton (H)23 Newcastle (A)30 Leeds (H)Title OddsCrystal Palace to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1FFT VerdictFourFourTwo verdict: Crystal Palace to finish 13th.It's no guarantee that Sage can repeat Lens' tremendous 2025-26 season in England. Palace do have a fine squad and continue to sign well, however, with the possible exception of January 2026.This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.TOPICSPremier LeagueGreg LeaSocial Links NavigationGreg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).
