Crystal Palace and Fulham meet again just weeks after Palace’s 2 to 1 away win at Craven Cottage, this time at Selhurst Park to open 2026 with a London derby. Palace have not won in five league matches, so the focus is on whether Oliver Glasner’s side can turn chances into goals at home.
Match info and Premier League snapshot
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Crystal Palace vs Fulham |
| Competition | Premier League |
| Date | Thursday, 1st January 2026 |
| Kickoff | 17:30 GMT |
| Venue | Selhurst Park |
| Table context | Palace: 26 points (18 played). Fulham: 26 points (18 played). |
| Goals for, goals against | Palace: 21 for, 20 against. Fulham: 25 for, 26 against. |
Crystal Palace vs Fulham recent meetings
Palace have had the edge in the league series lately, including that December win that should shape both game plans.
| Date | Venue | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 7, 2025 | Craven Cottage | Premier League | Fulham 1, Palace 2 |
| Feb 22, 2025 | Craven Cottage | Premier League | Fulham 0, Palace 2 |
| Nov 9, 2024 | Selhurst Park | Premier League | Palace 0, Fulham 2 |
Team news and absences
Palace have two confirmed absences, while Fulham are dealing with AFCON departures that affect balance across the spine and wide areas.
| Team | Confirmed out | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | Chris Richards, Eddie Nketiah | Both ruled out for this match, per Glasner. |
| Fulham | Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze | All linked with AFCON absence, which may stretch Fulham’s rotations. |
Form and matchup notes
This game looks like a control vs transitions contest, with both teams capable of creating chances but often deciding games in short bursts.
| Angle | What it suggests for this match |
|---|---|
| Palace recent form | Winless in five league matches, so urgency at Selhurst Park should be high. |
| Fulham’s recent results | They have shown they can grind out tight games, including a 1 to 0 home win over Nottingham Forest, and they won 3 to 2 at Burnley earlier in December. |
| Key tactical battleground | Without Nketiah, Palace may lean more on wide service and set pieces, while Fulham’s AFCON absences could reduce their ball carrying and recovery pace in midfield and defense. |
Crystal Palace vs Fulham prediction
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1, Fulham 1.
With Palace missing Nketiah, Sarr etc and Fulham missing key AFCON names, the match sets up as tight and choppy, with set pieces and second balls likely deciding the biggest moments.
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