18 Games Unbeaten... And Still Nobody's Talking About Them as a Serious Top 4 Contender

18 Games Unbeaten... And Still Nobody's Talking About Them as a Serious Top 4 Contender

Crystal Palace ended Liverpool's winning start to the season on Saturday with a dramatic 2-1 win, all while keeping their own impressive streak alive.

There was no element of fortune about this result. Arne Slot was open in his appreciation of Oliver Glasner's side, admitting that the Eagles were fully deserving of their late winner.

Now, as they sit in the lofty heights of third place, just three points off the top spot, we analyze whether this is a purple patch for the South Londoners, or if they should be treated as a legitimate threat this season.

18 Games and Counting...

You have to go back to April to find when Palace last tasted defeat in competitive action. In the time that has elapsed since, they have lifted the first-ever trophy in the club's history, won the Community Shield, and qualified for Europe.

This remarkable run has seen them claim the scalps of some of the biggest hitters, including Liverpool (twice), Manchester City, Tottenham, and Aston Villa (twice). Not to mention they have earned draws against Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and more. If it is a purple patch, it is one of the best we have seen.

Oliver Glasner has won 33, drawn 23 and lost just 15 of his 71 matches in charge of Crystal Palace.

His loss % of a mere 21.1% is the lowest of any permanent manager since the club was founded.

The man has changed lives in South London. pic.twitter.com/am6vuG2O20

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) September 27, 2025

The next few weeks will be a real test of this side and what they are made of.

On Thursday evening, they make the journey across to Poland, the temporary home of Dynamo Kyiv in the Conference League, before heading to Merseyside on Sunday to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where in-form Everton will be anything but easy.

And things don't get any easier as they take on fellow early-season high-flyers Bournemouth before back-to-back away games against Arsenal and Liverpool await.

If Palace come out of this run unschathed, then football fans the world over will have no choice but to sit up and take notice.

A Squad You Can Rely On

People predicted that Palace's lack of transfer activity may be their undoing, but we would argue that it has benefited them.

Glasner has a squad that is littered with experience in this division, and while teams are busy bedding players in, the Eagles are soaring.

Marc Guehi has shown himself to be the consummate professional during the entire transfer saga with Liverpool. Not only did he not down tools like other more high-profile examples, but even when the move fell through at the eleventh hour, his levels have not dropped in the slightest, and he continues to show why he is one of the best defenders in the league.

🚨 Oliver Glasner: “Of course Guehi was a little bit disappointed after Liverpool saga… but then he said. no, it's fine, I like being here, I like the team, I like the staff, I like Crystal Palace, I'm a south London boy, I will give my best”.

“I knew this would happen”. pic.twitter.com/9vNvQpvr24

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 26, 2025

Guehi is not the only shining light in this squad, though. Adam Wharton, still just only 21-years-old, is not only earning suitors on these shores, but apparently even Real Madrid are keeping tabs on the English midfielder.

There is also an abundance of players within the side who never get the credit they truly deserve. Midfield duo Will Hughes and Daichi Kamada quietly go about their business and have gone toe-to-toe with some of the best, coming out on top more often than not.

Jean-Phillipe Mateta and his corner flag kicking antics won the hearts of those in blue and red last season, and while he hasn't quite hit those same heights yet, his all-around performance is vital to all that Palace do.

We could go on naming unsung heroes. Tyrick Mitchell, Chris Richards, Dean Henderson, Ismaila Sarr, and others have all played a significant role in getting the side to where it is now. And after delivering the FA Cup last season, these players will forever be etched in the history of Crystal Palace.

Our best half that season there. Kamada, Wharton and Hughes combo is like watching prime Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets 🤌🏼

— mitch 🏆🦅 (@tyrickmitch) August 31, 2025

The Glasner Effect

Since arriving in February 2024, the most significant change under the German has been at the back. The defensive statistics consistently place Palace among the top five or six defensive sides in the entire division.

🗣️ "They played a good defensive game"

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola congratulates Crystal Palace after they won the FA Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wUjKFIwk1a

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 17, 2025

However, it is more than that. Glasner's side is potent in attack, with Mateta and Sarr always a threat, and the recent addition of Yeremi Pino has only added extra firepower. What makes the job even more impressive is that, under his stewardship, the Eagles have lost two of their best players, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, and there has been no noticeable fall-off in either case.

There was almost another departure when club captain Guehi was seemingly on the verge of moving to Merseyside, until, if reports are to be believed, an ultimatum was given by Glasner, which simply put was: If he goes, then so do I.

While Glasner has poured cold water on these claims, the fact that both remained at the club does give a glimpse as to how highly he is regarded at the club.

All of this success does again mean that Glasner will be embroiled in another media circus in the coming months; however, this time it may pertain to his own future.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt manager is reportedly being closely tracked by Manchester United amid their latest managerial struggles.

Steve Parish and the Palace board will be desperate to keep Glasner beyond his current deal, which expires next summer, a topic on which the manager refuses to be drawn when asked.

Oliver Glasner. My number one choice if/when Amorim gets sacked.

Glasner is destined for greatness. Isn’t emotional, yes he likes to play three at the back but most importantly, does not hesitate to change and adapt.

PL proven so will need next to no time to get @ManUtd up the… pic.twitter.com/oLz63Jgtih

— Anil Kandola (@AnilKandola) September 27, 2025

Where Do They Go From Here?

We know it is far too premature to be making such bold claims just six games into the season; however, we do believe that Palace have all the components to finally shake off the notion that they only ever finish 12th every season.

While Champions League qualification may be a step too far, we believe that behind closed doors, those of a Palace persuasion will be quietly believing they can qualify for Europe again next year.

Honestly, hearing “Palace begin their European campaign away to Dynamo Kyiv” just now on TNT Sports was a bit of a moment.

Still feels so weird.

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) September 17, 2025

After such a strong start, Glasner will surely be expecting a top-half finish as the bare minimum.

As mentioned previously, the transfer activity, or lack thereof, is a positive in this current moment; however, such a small squad could easily be decimated by unfortunate luck with injuries.

With Thursday-Sunday fixtures now the norm, this squad will be put to the test, and it remains to be seen how they will cope with this added strain.

To not end on a sombre note, let's take a moment to acknowledge the past few months for those long-suffering Crystal Palace fans: Not just one piece of silverware, but two, European nights at Selhurst Park, and riding high in third place in the Premier League.

It's really a pinch-yourself moment for the Eagles.