Crystal Palace turns to Liverpool-linked coach after Andoni Iraola setback
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesLiverpool FCAndoni Iraola was linked with a somewhat surprise move to Crystal Palace but it looks as though he will be the man to replace Arne Slot in the Anfield dugout insteadPierre Sage has held talks with Crystal Palace(Image: Getty Images)Crystal Palace will reportedly hold further talks with Lens manager Pierre Sage, who is set to miss out on the Liverpool job amid the expectation that Andoni Iraola will take over at Anfield.Palace is searching for a new manager following the departure of Oliver Glasner, and that is a situation that Liverpool also finds itself in after firing Arne Slot on Saturday.Coincidentally, both clubs have been linked with Iraola and Sage, and it looks as though Iraola will end up at Liverpool, while the Daily Mail says that Sage could move to Selhurst Park.Sage's stock is high as a result of the excellent season that Lens has had, after it won the French Cup and finished just six points behind PSG in Ligue 1.Sage has two years remaining on his contract with Lens but is open to taking over at Palace, and initial talks have already taken place.PSG boss Luis Enrique recently called for Sage to be recognized as Ligue 1's coach of the season.“This is the first time since I've been here that a team has given us so much trouble," Enrique said. "Nobody imagined this at the start of the season.“Congrats to Lens and to Pierre Sage, he deserves to win the Ligue 1 best coach trophy.
What he's done is incredible.”Meanwhile, Liverpool aims to have appointed Iraola as Slot's replacement by the time the World Cup gets underway on June 11.It quickly emerged that Iraola was Liverpool's preferred candidate to replace Slot after the Dutchman was fired on Saturday, just six days on from the end of the Premier League season. Liverpool secured Champions League qualification a week ago, and at the time, it was understood that Slot had done enough to keep his job heading into next season.Andoni Iraola is the clear favorite to take over from Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)However, an end-of-season review ended with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards making the decision to relieve Slot of his duties.The Telegraph reports that Liverpool is set to open formal talks with Iraola imminently, and it seems as though Slot's replacement will be installed within days of his exit.As for the review that led to Slot's departure, it is reported that the players were not consulted on the decision and that the call to remove the Dutchman was largely data-led.Slot is said to have been shocked at the decision, which was communicated to him just 90 minutes prior to Liverpool officially confirming the news at around 12.30pm BST on Saturday.Liverpool fired Slot because the club feels as though a shift in the club's style of play is needed in order to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 season.The Reds also feel as though the landscape of the Premier League has changed in recent years, leading to a different set of skills being required.Many Liverpool fans were left frustrated by the team's performances this term and a perceived passive approach, and the club intends to hire a replacement – probably Iraola – who implements a more aggressive and front-foot style.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FC