Crystal Palace Vs Fulham

This Saturday, two English Premier League clubs are set to face off at Selhurst Park, each aiming to secure a valuable win and head into the international break with momentum. Crystal Palace will host Fulham in a high-stakes London derby, as both teams strive to capitalize on the match as a stepping stone for the season.

Last season, Crystal Palace and Fulham were inseparable in both encounters, with each side taking a share of the points. The first clash at Selhurst Park in September 2023 ended in a goalless draw, while the second match at Craven Cottage in March saw an evenly contested 1-1 stalemate.

Crystal Palace enters this match on the back of a mixed set of results. After a win against Everton, the Eagles suffered consecutive losses to Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, but they've since stabilized with a three-game unbeaten run across all competitions, earning four points in their last two league fixtures. A significant boost came when Palace secured their first home win of the season, edging out Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 over a week ago. They continued to show grit in the EFL Cup, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 in the Round of 16, before a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

Palace’s recent goal scorers Chalobah and Guehi have contributed to Oliver Glasner’s squad's efforts to climb out of the relegation zone. Currently sitting 17th in the league with only 10 games played, the Eagles know that a win in this derby could mark an important turning point. In fact, Crystal Palace hasn’t achieved consecutive London derby wins in the Premier League since April 2017, when they defeated both Chelsea and Arsenal. Saturday’s game presents an opportunity to break this streak, though history suggests it may not be an easy task. The last five league encounters with Fulham have ended in draws, with the three most recent fixtures all sharing the points.

Fulham, on the other hand, experienced a dramatic escape from what seemed like their fourth consecutive Premier League loss in their latest match. Facing Brentford in a tense West London derby on Monday evening, the Cottagers were on the brink of defeat until stoppage time. Substitute Harry Wilson entered the game in the 82nd minute and turned the match around, scoring twice in the 92nd and 97th minutes to deliver a 2-1 comeback victory, igniting ecstatic scenes at Craven Cottage. Manager Marco Silva commended his players for their resilience, describing the result as a "deserved" reward for their fighting spirit. The win propelled Fulham into ninth place, placing them just three points outside the top four and returning them to the top half of the table.

While Fulham’s 15 points from their first 10 games show promise, only five of these points were earned in away games. Their road form has been inconsistent; they’ve managed just four wins in 14 away league games throughout 2024, including a narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in September. Nevertheless, Fulham will enter the clash with confidence, given that they have gathered five points from their last three visits to Selhurst Park and maintained three clean sheets during that period.

With both teams motivated to capitalize on recent successes, Saturday’s match at Selhurst Park promises to be a thrilling affair as Crystal Palace and Fulham battle for a crucial Premier League victory.