A 2-0 defeat away at Everton in his opening game was not the start new head coach Pierre Sage was looking for, and the result was compounded by news of a contract row involving his fellow Frenchman, while last season's top scorer Ismail Sarr is on Liverpool's radar. Mateta believes the one-year contract extension triggered by the club last season is invalid. Mateta missed two big chances in the first half against Everton, and Palace's profligacy in front of goal has been a cause of concern for some time now.