English Premier
2026-01-01 - Crystal Palace vs Fulham
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Thursday 1st January 2025 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Crystal Palace
Key players cannot return soon enough from injury and international duty, but Oliver Glasner will be hoping the Crystal Palace board are going to loosen the purse strings in the January transfer window. As strong as the first half of the season has been for the club, it has also been clear that the manager does not have the depth that is required for a Crystal Palace playing in European Football for the first time.
Reports indicate that Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace will part ways at the end of the season when the manager's contract runs out and so it will be interesting to see what kind of backing the board want to give the manager. The Eagles need players having slipped to 9th in the Premier League table after a home loss on Sunday, although they are still firmly in a strong position to have a very impactful second half of the campaign.
Crystal Palace have not only failed to win any of the last 5 games played in all competitions, but they have lost 3 straight Premier League fixtures. The 0-1 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur means Crystal Palace have not won any of 5 at Selhurst Park in all competitions and they have also suffered 3 consecutive Premier League defeats here.
Chris Richards and Eddie Nketiah are both doubts for the home team, which stretches the squad even more.
Fulham
If there had been lingering concerns about being dragged back into a relegation scrap, Fulham's late winner at the London Stadium last weekend will have certainly eased those. Marco Silva will be another manager that may be hoping to be backed in the January transfer window, although it may be most important to keep the squad together with Harry Wilson being linked with a move away.
It isn't that long ago when Fulham looked to be a team that could be a potential surprise relegation candidate, but results over the last month has pushed the team up into 10th place in the Premier League table. All of a sudden Fulham fans will be thinking about European Football and the manager has made it clear that he has big ambitions with the club.
Fulham were unfortunately beaten in the League Cup Quarter Final at Newcastle United, but they have won 3 consecutive Premier League games to bolster the confidence of the squad. The side had begun this season really struggling away from Craven Cottage, but Fulham's win at West Ham United means they have won 3 straight away League games.
Ryan Sessegnon is closing in on a return to action, but that may have to wait a few more days.
Head to Head
A late goal helped Crystal Palace earn a narrow 1-2 win at Craven Cottage in early December.
That makes it 3 wins in a row at Craven Cottage, but Crystal Palace have not won any of the last 4 when hosting Fulham and have lost twice in that run.
Prediction
This London derby is featuring two teams in contrasting form as far as results are concerned, although Crystal Palace and Fulham fans may feel things could change pretty quickly.
Of course Fulham supporters will not want to see that happen with the team flying up the Premier League table and they would move above Crystal Palace with another win at Selhurst Park.
That is quite surprising, but also shows how congested this Premier League table has become in between the top three and bottom three.
Fulham battled for a win at West Ham United on Saturday to make it 3 away wins in a row, although the underlying numbers suggest they have been a little fortunate at times. They will feel they can contain a Crystal Palace team struggling for goals without the attacking outlets of Daniel Munoz and Ismaila Sarr, although Oliver Glasner will believe his team have created enough quality looks to have done better in recent weeks.
A busy schedule has perhaps led to some flatness in the squad, but Crystal Palace have created some big opportunities in the losses to Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in recent games at Selhurst Park.
Doing the same here should give Crystal Palace an opportunity to not only snap their poor recent form, but also end Fulham's surge, although you do have to factor in the poor record The Eagles have when hosting Fulham in recent years.
However, 3 wins in a row at Craven Cottage will give Crystal Palace belief and they may do just enough to earn the three points.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Crystal Palace 2-1 Fulham
