Fulham vs Crystal Palace Preview: Team News & Prediction

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We have a London derby at Craven Cottage that pits two under pressure sides against each other with winless Fulham welcoming winless Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Kick-off date/time: 5 September 2026 at 3:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – NBC

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Peacock

Fulham preview: Uncertainty at Fulham

The summer saw manager Marco Silva depart for Benfica with key men such as Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez also leaving. The appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa is a risky one, given his inexperience as a coach, despite a stint in charge of Real Madrid last season.

Fulham began their game with a competitive performance in a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea but the result perhaps flattered them before they were then fortunate to escape the Stadium of Light with only a 1-0 loss to Sunderland last weekend.

Crystal Palace preview: Tough start for Sage

Pierre Sage has a good managerial record and performed well to leave Lens as runners’ up in Ligue 1 last season but the Frenchman has faced a tough start to life as Crystal Palace boss.

Palace were beaten 2-0 by Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in their opening game of the campaign before then being hammered by four goals to one by Manchester City at Selhurst Park.

Fulham team news: Too early for new signings

Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed that Tom Cairney remains sidelined until after the international break in mid-October but he is their only injury absentee.

Arbeloa has confirmed that their trio of new signings, Manuel Angel, Hugo Larsson and David Affengruber, will not be involved either as this weekend is a 'little early'.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Bobb, King, Smith Rowe; Garcia

Unavailable: Affengruber (Fitness), Angel (Fitness), Cairney (Injured), Larsson (Fitness)

Questionable: 

Crystal Palace team news: No Sarr

Pierre Sage as confirmed that Ismaila Sarr will not be involved this weekend and will require time to 'process' recent weeks in which he apparently tried to force through a move to Liverpool.

Sarr is suffering from a groin injury anyway, while Chadi Riad and Jean-Philippe Mateta are both also confirmed injury absentees for The Eagles.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Disasi; Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Nketiah, Strand Larsen, Pino

Unavailable: Riad (Injured), Sarr (Injured), Mateta (Injured)

Questionable: 

Fulham vs Crystal Palace prediction

Fulham have shown more cohesion so far this season than their counterparts but it has remained below par. Crystal Palace will eventually expect to become awkward to play against once again under Sage but there is a feeling that their current teething issues may yet take some time to get through. As a result, a low-scoring encounter remains likely as Palace try to be awkward and Fulham still search for their fluency – without being given goals as they were by Robert Sanchez in their opener against Chelsea.

Fulham vs Crystal Palace tip: Under 2.5 goals