Crystal Palace will be without four key players for their Premier League trip to Leeds United on Sunday. Manager Pierre Sage confirmed the absences of Chadi Riad, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Dean Henderson, while Axel Disasi is suspended.

Pierre Sage said his side is "struggling with defensive options as he prepares to travel to Elland Road on Sunday." The manager must find solutions for a back line missing two regulars. Riad is out for the season with a knee injury, a major blow to the squad's depth. Mateta and Henderson are both sidelined with thigh and foot problems respectively and will not return until after the upcoming international break. Disasi serves a one-match ban following his straight red card in the 2-3 defeat to Ipswich Town last week.

Squad depth tested

The Eagles head north sitting 17th in the Premier League table with just three points from their opening four matches. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with three wins and two losses in their last five outings across all competitions. They arrive off the back of a convincing 4-0 Europa League victory over Lech Poznan, where goals came from Yeremy Pino, Chris Richards, Jörgen Strand Larsen and Eddie Nketiah. That result provides a confidence boost, but the league table shows a more challenging picture, with Palace nine points behind leaders Manchester City.

Leeds United, their hosts, sit sixth and are in strong form. Daniel Farke's side thrashed Newcastle United 4-1 in their last league match, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor on the scoresheet. "Will be keen to build on their stellar 4-1 win against Newcastle United," Farke said of his team. The Whites have their own injury concerns, with Joe Rodon out with a thigh issue and Mateo Joseph recovering from an ACL injury. Ilia Gruev played for the under-21s midweek but is not expected to be ready for the first team this weekend.

For Palace, the focus turns to who can step up in defence. The absence of Riad and Disasi leaves a significant gap, likely requiring a reshuffle. The team's standings position adds urgency to the fixture, as they seek to climb away from the lower reaches early in the season. Fans can check the full squad list to see the remaining options available to Sage. The last meeting between these sides at Selhurst Park in March ended in a 0-0 draw. Crystal Palace's next assignment is the trip to Elland Road on Sunday, 20 September.

The report in full is at sports.yahoo.com