Crystal Palace vs Fulham Prediction & Betting Tips (1 January)

Crystal Palace, after winning the first title in its history last year in the FA Cup final ahead of Liverpool, was still fighting for tickets to the Champions League a few weeks ago. However, December hurt the Eagles a lot. Beaten on December 14 in the league by Guardiola's City 0-3, Crystal Palace had eaten the dust at a very sharp Leeds United 1-4 on the 20th, and at home against Tottenham Spurs 0-1 last weekend at home. Prior to this latest setback, Crystal Palace had fallen at the TAB to Arsenal in the quarter-final of the EFL Cup 1-1, 8-7 tab.

 Opposite, Fulham is an English team in the second half of the table, whose objective each year is to have the biggest margin ahead of 18th place. For now, the residents of Craven Cottage have obtained the congratulations of the jury to conclude this first semester. Tenth in the Premier League 26 points with a significant lead over the first relegated West Ham 13 points, Fulham took the opposite path to Crystal, namely winning their last 3 matches ahead of Burnley 2-3 on December 14, Nottm Forrest 1-0 on December 22 and West Ham 0-1 on Saturday December 27. 

Among the Eagles, Munoz (3 goals and 2 assists in PL) will not be fit, to which we add that the long-term absentees Riad, Kporha, Cardines (defenders) and Doucouré (midfield) as well as the Japanese international Kamada. Finally, the starting winger Sarr left to compete in the African Cup of Nations with Senegal, the important Richards (defender) remained in the infirmary and Nketiah (2 goals in PL, winger) returned to the group, and came into play during the game against Tottenham. Recently a French international with the A, Mateta (7 goals in the PL) will be present at the forefront of this attack in a 3-4-2-1. No goals for Mateta in his last 7 games, a statistic which demonstrates the offensive difficulties facing the Eagles at the moment. Slightly smaller squad on paper but fewer players will be injured among the visitors. Thus, left-back Sessegnon (2 goals in the Premier League this season) and potentially starting striker Rodrigo Muniz (1 goal) should not move from the infirmary for this match.

On the other hand, Fulham is a little more impacted by the boys who left to join their selection at the CAN. Nigerian internationals Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze have all joined the Eagles to play in the Africa Cup of Nations at the moment. Note during the last match the return of winger Wilson (the club's top scorer with 5 goals, plus 3 assists in the PL) present in the 11 on the right wing, like Smith Rowe (3 goals in the PL) and Raul Jimenez (3 goals and 2 assists in the PL), the only scorer in the match against West Ham. The probable line-ups for Crystal Palace - Fulham: Crystal Palace: Henderson - Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi - Clyne, Hugues, Wharton, Mitchell - Nketiah, Mateta, Pino. Fulham: Leno - Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson - Lukic, Berge - Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Kevin - Jimenez.

• Summary: Crystal Palace is going head to head with Fulham starting on 1 Jan 2026 at 17:30 UTC at Selhurst Park stadium, London city, England. The match is a part of the Premier League .
• Referee: Tony Harrington
• Crystal Palace Feedinco Rating: 6.87
• Fulham Feedinco Rating: 6.79