Pierre Sage's Crystal Palace future in doubt after fourth straight league defeat

Crystal Palace are bottom of the Premier League, and manager Pierre Sage is in serious danger of losing his job. Five months into his reign, the club have held internal talks about his future and who might replace him, according to BBC Sport.

The latest defeat came on Sunday, when Liverpool beat Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park. It was the fourth league loss in a row. Palace have won two of their 10 league matches this season and collected seven points. A win earns three points and a draw earns one.

The problems go beyond the table. Palace have conceded 24 goals, the most of any team in the Premier League. In Europe they sit 21st in the Europa League, the second-tier competition for clubs from across the continent, with one win from four games. They have not won a league match since 11 October, when a 5-0 defeat at Brighton started the slide.

Sage took charge in June on a three-year contract, after Oliver Glasner left the club. Sky Sports has pointed to the loss of defenders Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, along with an injury to winger Ismaila Sarr, as a reason for the poor run.

Sage was given a clear test before the Liverpool game. Chairman Steve Parish gave him two matches, against Besiktas and Newcastle, to turn results around, and Sky Sports reported that Parish wanted him to show he could adapt. On 27 October, Sage said he was confident he could turn the team's form around.

If the club do decide to change, two names stand out. Thomas Frank, a former Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford manager, is seen as a strong candidate. Sean Dyche, the former Nottingham Forest boss, has some support from inside the club. Both are out of work and could start straight away.

The league is pausing for international fixtures, when club football stops so national teams can play. Palace's next Premier League match is away at Coventry on 21 November.