Ian Darke's Premier League takeaways: Could Palace really dethrone Liverpool to win title?
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Premier League Takeaways: Could Palace Really Dethrone Liverpool and Win the Title?
Crystal Palace’s remarkable start to the 2025-26 Premier League season has sparked serious conversation about their ceiling—could they become the new Leicester and challenge for the title? Despite having sold key player Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for a hefty £67.5 million, Palace have not only maintained their strong form but have significantly elevated it, achieving an unbeaten run of 19 matches across all competitions—including a statement 1-0 FA Cup final win over Manchester City last season[4].
Oliver Glasner’s tactical approach, particularly the 3-4-2-1 system, has proven effective for Palace, in contrast to Manchester United’s faltering attempts with a similar shape under Ruben Amorim. The team’s defensive strength is built on the solid partnership of Chris Richards, Maxence Lecroix, and Marc Guéhi, supported by industrious wing-backs Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell, with Adam Wharton providing midfield stability. Up front, Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta have offered attacking spark, while new signing Yeremy Pino appears a capable replacement for Eze[4].
Palace’s current credentials were underlined by a narrow 2-1 victory over reigning champions Liverpool, ending Liverpool’s perfect start to the season and affirming their status as a genuine threat. While Liverpool look to continue their dominance, Palace are emerging as an unexpected but credible contender, thanks to a robust defense (conceding just three goals in the league), a well-drilled squad, and a tactically astute manager—qualities that fueled Leicester’s historic title in 2016[4].
Despite this, the article acknowledges that projecting Palace as league winners remains an “outlandish suggestion,” but their early-season performances, bolstered by continuity, smart recruitment, and tactical identity, provide reason to expect the unexpected this season. If the “new” Palace maintain momentum, they could become England’s latest football fairytale.
Cited from ESPN article by Ian Darke