Crystal Palace vs Fulham 1 JAN 2026

Crystal Palace vs Fulham Preview & Prediction | Premier League 2026

Crystal Palace vs Fulham 1 JAN 2026The Premier League begins 2026 with an intriguing London derby as Crystal Palace welcome Fulham to Selhurst Park on Thursday, 1 January 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 GMT.

Both sides enter the contest level on 26 points, sitting 11th and 12th respectively, separated only by goal difference. While Crystal Palace are searching for a much-needed return to form, Fulham arrive in confident mood, chasing a historic fourth consecutive Premier League victory.

UK viewers can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League, with this fixture expected to have a direct impact on the congested mid-table battle.

Match Overview: Form, Context and Stakes

Crystal Palace Form Guide

Crystal Palace come into this fixture on a five-game winless run, losing four of those matches. Their struggles at Selhurst Park have been particularly concerning, failing to score in their last four home league games against Fulham.

Historically, Palace have also found New Year’s Day fixtures difficult, winning just four of their last 20 home Premier League matches played in January. With mounting pressure from supporters, this game feels pivotal for Oliver Glasner’s side.

Fulham Form Guide

Fulham, by contrast, are enjoying one of their strongest spells of the season. Marco Silva’s men have won three Premier League matches in a row and could equal their best-ever top-flight winning streak, last achieved in the 2022–23 campaign.

Although their New Year’s Day record is mixed, Fulham’s recent performances suggest a team playing with confidence, structure and attacking clarity.

Crystal Palace vs Fulham Preview & Prediction | Premier League 2026

Crystal Palace Team News

Palace face a long list of absentees that significantly limits squad depth:

Chris Richards – foot injury
Eddie Nketiah – hamstring (out up to six weeks)
Ismaila Sarr – international duty
Cheick Doucouré, Daichi Kamada, Daniel Muñoz – all unavailable

With key midfielders missing, Palace may struggle to control tempo, placing extra responsibility on Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Fulham Team News

Fulham’s injury concerns are fewer but still notable:

Ryan Sessegnon – hamstring
Rodrigo Muniz – hamstring
Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze – international duty

Despite these absences, Silva is expected to name a relatively settled XI.

Crystal Palace vs Fulham 1 JAN 2026

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1)

Dean Henderson; Jefferson Lerma, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guéhi; Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell; Eberechi Eze, Yéremi Pino; Jean-Philippe Mateta

Fulham (4-2-3-1)

Bernd Leno; Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Jorge Cuenca, Antonee Robinson; Sasa Lukic, Sander Berge; Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, Kevin; Raúl Jiménez

Head-to-Head Record

Last 16 meetings: Palace 6 wins | Fulham 4 wins | Draws 6
Palace are winless in their last four home Premier League games vs Fulham
Palace have failed to score in those four matches
The most recent meeting ended in a 4–1 Fulham victory

Historically, this fixture tends to be tight and low-scoring, often producing fewer than 2.5 goals.

Key Players to Watch

Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze – Palace’s creative heartbeat, vital for breaking defensive lines
Jean-Philippe Mateta – physical presence and set-piece threat

Fulham

Emile Smith Rowe – consistent goal and assist output from midfield
Raúl Jiménez – experience and composure in front of goal

Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

Based on form, squad availability and recent history, Fulham enter as slight favourites.

Crystal Palace’s home struggles and injury problems contrast sharply with Fulham’s momentum and tactical stability. While Palace are capable of making this competitive, Fulham appear better equipped to manage key moments.

🔮 Predicted Score:

Crystal Palace 1–2 Fulham

Under 2.5 goals looks likely
Decisive moments may come from set-pieces or individual quality

Betting Tips (Optional)

Fulham to win – strong value given recent form
Under 2.5 goals – supported by historical trends
Anytime goalscorer – Emile Smith Rowe or Jean-Philippe Mateta

Always gamble responsibly and check the latest odds with licensed UK bookmakers.

Final Thought

This London derby offers the perfect way to open the Premier League calendar in 2026. Fulham’s rising confidence meets a Palace side desperate for revival — a tactical, tense and potentially decisive clash in the mid-table race.