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Crystal Palace are not in the Premier League merely to make up the numbers — they are here to challenge.

Is it really time to wake up yet? Winning three trophies in 12 months was beyond even the boldest expectations of most Crystal Palace supporters, but the Eagles have now developed a taste for silverware and they are not satisfied yet — even after Oliver Glasner's departure.

The architect of those FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League successes has moved on after a magnificent two-and-a-half-year spell at the club.

His successor, Pierre Sage, has huge standards to match. Bringing in more silverware will not be straightforward, but supporters want the club to go all in for the Europa League. English teams have won the last two editions of Europe's second-tier competition. Why should Crystal Palace not be next?

Ideally, that push should not come at the cost of a top-half Premier League finish, something Palace have managed only twice since winning promotion in 2013.

If that is to happen, Sage will need greater squad depth and more options for rotation all over the pitch. Palace were fifth in December before the demands of their schedule began to catch up with them.

There is real value in numbers. Recruitment remains crucial. In recent years Palace have uncovered several gems, turning Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton from Championship talents into established internationals.

However, there are still doubts over Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen, who arrived for a combined £78m in January. A club operating on Palace's budget cannot afford expensive mistakes.

Palace moved quickly for Pierre Sage after Andoni Iraola opted for Liverpool (strange).

In 2025-26, he guided Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and Coupe de France success using a Glasner-like 3-4-3 system. Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique said, “It's the first time since I've been here that a side has given us so much trouble.”

Ismaila Sarr's 21 goals in all competitions made him the first Palace player to reach 20 at the top level since Andy Johnson in 2004-05.

Now 28, Sarr is in his prime: clever, adaptable and clinical, with an instinct for finding space in dangerous areas.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Winners (1-0 vs Rayo Vallecano)

PREMIER LEAGUE: 15th

FA Cup: Third Round (2-1 loss vs Macclesfield)

League Cup: Quarter-finals (1-1, 8-7 Penalties loss vs Arsenal)

Be more ruthless with the chances they create. 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, ahead of top-eight finishers Brighton, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

Palace underperformed their expected goals by more than any other side. A stronger record at Selhurst Park would also be a major boost.

With only four wins there, Palace collected fewer points at home than away. Sage has to turn Selhurst Park back into a fortress.

Check the inbox twice. After being thrown out of last season's Europa League for missing a crucial UEFA memo on multi-club ownership, Palace will be watching their emails very carefully.

Meet a deadline. The Eagles revealed plans for an expanded Main Stand in 2017 and aimed to complete it within three years, but work has only just begun. Palace are in danger of making HS2 look efficient.

Last season was all about the Conference League. Our league form became secondary as the focus shifted to winning another trophy. It is becoming a habit.

The big talking point is how we move on from the most successful manager in our history. Glasner transformed the culture of the club completely. But Sage also delivered success with Lens last season.

I won't be happy unless I see Palace at San Siro. What is more surprising — Crystal Palace being in the Europa League, or Milan being there?

Our key player will be Jorgen Strand Larsen, if Sage can get the best out of him. Our record signing has shown flashes of quality since joining in January.

Look out for our French central defender Jaydee Canvot. The teenager had an outstanding first campaign and will play at the very highest level in the years ahead.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Jordan Henderson, for the constant whining and for taking Adam Wharton's seat on the flight to the World Cup. It is 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 path taken by Eze, Olise and Wharton.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is seeing how many away fans admire the Wilfried Zaha mural.

We'll finish clear of danger, but I am worried that we may again struggle to strike the right balance between our Premier League and European campaigns.

AUGUST

22 Everton (A)

29 Manchester City (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Fulham (A)

12 Ipswich (H)

19 Leeds (A)

OCTOBER

10 Nottingham Forest (H)

17 Brighton (A)

24 Newcastle (H)

31 Tottenham (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Liverpool (H)

21 Coventry (A)

28 Hull City (H)

DECEMBER

2 Chelsea (A)

5 Aston Villa (A)

12 Manchester United (H)

19 Sunderland (A)

26 Arsenal (H)

30 Bournemouth (H)

JANUARY

2 Brentford (A)

6 Chelsea (H)

16 Liverpool (A)

23 Tottenham (H)

30 Hull City (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Coventry (H)

10 Brentford (H)

20 Bournemouth (A)

27 Sunderland (H)

MARCH

3 Arsenal (A)

13 Fulham (H)

20 Ipswich (A)

APRIL

10 Everton (H)

17 Manchester City (A)

24 Manchester United (A)

MAY

1 Aston Villa (H)

8 Nottingham Forest (A)

15 Brighton (H)

23 Newcastle (A)

30 Leeds (H)

Crystal Palace to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1

FourFourTwo verdict: Crystal Palace to finish 13th.

There is no certainty that Sage can reproduce Lens' outstanding 2025-26 campaign in England. Palace do, however, possess a strong squad and have generally continued to recruit well, with the possible exception of January 2026.