Sage has had to balance the minutes of his squad throughout a varied pre-season campaign, with Palace’s World Cup stars returning at different points in the summer.
But the Frenchman says he has been impressed by the dedication and workrate his players have shown during his first few weeks.
In the written section of his pre-match press conference before the trip to Merseyside, Sage offered insight into what he has seen from his players over the first few weeks.
“I have liked the commitment,” Sage said. “Because they are clearly here to compete.
“They are really serious during the sessions. They take in all the messages [from the staff].
