Crystal Palace welcome Fulham to Selhurst Park for a London derby that comes with two very different recent trajectories. Palace are trying to halt a wobble after a bruising spell of results, while Fulham arrive in far better rhythm and with the chance to turn a strong December into a platform for the second half of the season.
Palace’s most recent outing ended in a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham, a tight match decided by a single moment that left them frustrated at not taking something from a game where they saw plenty of the ball. Fulham’s 1–0 away win at West Ham, settled late, another example of their growing habit of finding a way through close contests.
Looking at league form across the last six fixtures, Palace’s results have been up-and-down: three wins and three defeats. They’ve shown they can win games when their energy and transitions click, but they’ve also been punished heavily against top opponents and have struggled to recover once momentum swings away from them. Fulham’s last six in the league is much stronger on paper: four wins and two defeats, including back-to-back away victories and a sequence that has lifted them up the table.
The teams also know each other well, having met recently. Palace won 2–1 at Craven Cottage earlier this month, scoring early and then finding a late winner after Fulham had levelled. That game is a useful reference point: Palace were clinical at key moments, Fulham controlled long spells and created enough to believe they can turn the outcome around this time.
Injury concerns and availability will shape the selection conversation. Palace remain without Ismaïla Sarr, who is recovering from ankle ligament damage, and his absence reduces their pace and directness in wide areas. There has also been attention on Chris Richards, who picked up a foot injury in the cup and required treatment; he’s been viewed as a doubt rather than a definitive absentee, so late checks matter. Palace have also been managing defensive depth in recent weeks, meaning any small knock can have an outsized impact on balance and partnerships.
Fulham’s biggest confirmed problem has been in attack, where Rodrigo Muniz has been sidelined by a hamstring issue that has required surgery, limiting Marco Silva’s centre-forward options. Fulham have also been impacted by international duty: Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, which affects both their midfield/attacking rotation and defensive depth.
As for players in form, Palace can take encouragement from the way they’ve found goals from different sources. Eddie Nketiah has shown he can make the difference with sharp movement in the box, while captain Marc Guéhi remains a set-piece threat and a key organiser at the back. Jean-Philippe Mateta is still the focal point for how Palace play when they go direct, and when he pins defenders effectively it brings their best runners and creators into the game. For Fulham, Raúl Jiménez has delivered important goals and has been decisive from the spot, while Harry Wilson continues to provide end product and momentum swings with his delivery and shooting. Emile Smith Rowe has also been influential in their better spells, knitting play together and arriving late into dangerous areas.
Tactically, this looks like a contrast in how each side wants to hurt the other. Palace under Oliver Glasner will likely try to make Selhurst feel intense and unpredictable: quick pressure, aggressive second-ball play, and fast attacks when space opens up. Fulham, led by Marco Silva, are usually most comfortable when they can settle into shape, play through midfield with patience, and pick the right moments to increase tempo — particularly if Palace over-commit and leave transition lanes open.
With derby edge, recent history between the sides, and both squads shaped by absences, this has the feel of a match decided by concentration and timing. Palace need a response and a performance that reconnects them with Selhurst Park. Fulham will believe their recent form gives them a real chance — but they’ll also know this ground can flip a game quickly if they lose control of the key moments.
