'It could be a tricky debut season for Sage'

Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace's new French football manager, faced an uncertain debut season as he struggled to capitalize on his team's promising start. The manager appeared frustrated in the second half, visibly rubbing his chin after making substitutions in a bid to salvage a result from a game that had begun so strongly.

Sage's team had dominated early on, with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah, and Daniel Munoz creating several quality chances that could have led to goals. However, once Everton solidified their defense, those opportunities vanished. The second half saw Crystal Palace offer little resistance, and Sage admitted, "We gave up a little."

Adding to the manager's challenges, Crystal Palace were without their top scorer from the previous season, Ismaila Sarr, who had transferred to Galatasaray. The loss of Maxence Lacroix in defense further complicated the situation. With the transfer window nearing its end, it appeared that Sage would face a difficult debut season if the club were unable to bolster their squad before the deadline.