Crystal Palace Faces Uncertainty as 2026 Begins
After what many consider the best year in the club's history, Crystal Palace enters 2026 struggling with form and uncertainty.
Manager Oliver Glasner has achieved historic FA Cup and Community Shield victories, led the club's inaugural major European campaign, and secured a record points tally in the Premier League since his appointment in February 2024.
However, the team concluded 2025 with a third consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 1-0 to Tottenham at Selhurst Park, which matches their longest losing streak under Glasner.
Despite a demanding schedule that saw them play eight matches in December while juggling domestic and continental commitments, Glasner and his players have hesitated to attribute their dip in form to fatigue.
After publicly criticizing the club's lack of summer signings, Glasner expressed a strong desire for reinforcements in the January transfer window following the match.
His push for new players comes as he contemplates his future with the club, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
"We need the support," Glasner stated, as his team remains winless in five matches across all competitions. "We know we are missing a few players who are crucial to our attacking play - Daniel Munoz, Ismaila Sarr, Daichi Kamada," he told BBC Sport.
Reflecting on the past year, he remarked, "I believe it was by far the best season in Crystal Palace's history. It feels like we are not far from consistently competing at this level. We are just missing some key elements to maintain our position."
A Pivotal Month for Palace?
The three consecutive league defeats match the total losses the team faced in their opening 15 matches of the season. Like their manager, the club's supporters are hopeful for action in the upcoming transfer window to prevent a promising start from fading away.
However, there are concerns about the broader implications if the board fails to adequately support Glasner. Currently under contract until June 2026, Glasner has yet to commit to a long-term future with the club and is eager to see the club's ambitions align with his following a frustrating summer.
Former Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, speaking on Sky Sports, commented, "There is a situation with the manager. He is clearly indicating he wants additional players, but with his contract ending in the summer, he is likely the most crucial factor in retaining talent at the club. He's done a tremendous job, and if I were on the board, I would be looking to bring in one or two players for him."
Regarding Palace's recent performance, Pardew noted, "They resemble a flat Christmas champagne. There was no energy, no spark, and everything seemed slow; that's the mode they are currently in."
Injuries to key defenders Munoz and Chris Richards, coupled with Sarr's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, have strained an already modest squad. While new signings are essential for Glasner, uncertainty surrounds captain Marc Guehi's future, as he has informed the club that he will not renew his contract and will depart next year.
The 25-year-old England international attracted interest from Premier League champions Liverpool last summer, but Glasner persuaded the board to reject a £35 million offer.
On Guehi's future, Glasner stated, "Of course we want to keep everyone." BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel added, "It is anticipated that Guehi will remain at Palace until the end of the season when his contract expires. He has many options for the summer, including interest from clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan. By the end of the season, Liverpool and Manchester City will likely be back in the mix. He is leaving, but this situation will likely persist until summer when he can choose from various clubs."
What's Going Wrong for Palace?
Following the team's goalless performance against Spurs, Glasner naturally focused on Palace's attacking shortcomings. No Premier League team has underperformed their expected goals (xG) more than Crystal Palace this season, scoring only 21 goals despite an xG of 29.4. Talisman Jean Philippe Mateta has netted just once in the last eight league matches.
"We are the team that consistently underperforms in converting chances, even when we create many opportunities, but this is not intentional. We need to resolve this issue," Glasner remarked. "It's not that we don't create chances; we simply miss them at the moment. The closer we get to the goal, the more anxious we appear, leading to poor decisions."
Moreover, the challenges presented by these attacking deficiencies have been compounded by a troubling record in defending set pieces. Notably, eight of the last nine goals conceded by Crystal Palace in all competitions have originated from set-piece situations, including all seven of their most recent goals conceded.
In contrast, Tottenham leads the league in xG overperformance, having scored 9.8 more goals than their xG suggests they should have.