Match Preview
Fulham vrs Crystal Palace
Premier League Match Day 03 26_27 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 5th September 2026, KO: 15:00
Referee:
Samuel Barrott (West Riding)
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Fulham and Crystal Palace will both be looking for their first wins of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign when they lock horns at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
Fulham have lost to Chelsea and Sunderland in their opening two matches of the season, while Palace have lost to Everton and Manchester City.
Not too much attention should be paid to the Premier League table at this stage of the campaign, but it does not make great early reading for Fulham, who are down in 16th with zero points from two matches.
Alvaro Arbeloa's side lost 3-2 to West London rivals Chelsea in their campaign opener before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland last time out, but Fulham do have a home victory to their name this term, recording a 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup on August 27.
This match is even more important for Fulham given that their next two league games are against Liverpool and Manchester United, and Arbeloa will be desperate to put a Premier League victory on the board as soon as possible.
Fulham have only actually won one of their last eight matches against Palace, losing three of the last four, including a 2-1 reverse in the corresponding game last term.
The Cottagers ended the summer transfer window with seven new signings; Gonzalo Garcia was the headline arrival, while Sasa Lukic, Issa Diop, Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez were among those to depart.
Palace, meanwhile, made 10 signings over the summer; Adam Wharton stayed, but key players in the shape of Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz moved on.
The Eagles lost 2-0 to Everton in their 2026-27 Premier League opener before going down 4-1 to Manchester City last time out, and they are down in 18th spot in the division on zero points.
Pierre Sage's side are about to enter a very busy period, with their Europa League league phase campaign beginning against Lech on September 17, while they will take on Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup on September 8 ahead of a home Premier League clash with Ipswich Town.
Palace can take plenty of heart from their recent form against Fulham, and they have not actually been beaten by the Cottagers at Craven Cottage since January 2005.
The Eagles have won on each of their last three trips to Fulham in all competitions.
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Fulham have won just two of their last 13 Premier League matches against Crystal Palace (D6 L5), with both wins coming at Selhurst Park in 2022-23 and 2024-25.
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Crystal Palace lost their first away Premier League game at Fulham in 2004-05 but are since unbeaten in seven at Craven Cottage (W4
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Fulham are looking to avoid losing three successive Premier League London derbies for the first time since April 2023, after losing 3-0 to Arsenal in May and 3-2 at home to Chelsea on MD1 this season.
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Fulham have lost 3-2 to Chelsea and 1-0 to Sunderland this season. Only in 1951-52 and 2020-21 have they lost each of their first three games in a top-flight campaign, being relegated on both occasions.
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Alex Iwobi could make his 100th Premier League appearance for Fulham in this match. Having played 123 times for Everton and 100 times for Arsenal, he will be the fifth player to make 100+ appearances for three different clubs in the competition after Gary Speed (Leeds, Newcastle, Bolton), Rory Delap (Derby, Southampton, Stoke), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, Man City, Everton) and James Milner (Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool).
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Fulham’s Gonzalo García has made 29 off-ball runs in behind opponent’s defences in the Premier League this season, with only Bryan Mbeumo (39) and Kai Havertz (31) making more.
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Crystal Palace have won six of their last 10 away London derby matches in the Premier League (D3 L1), as many as they had in their previous 44 (D15 L23).
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After defeat to Manchester City last time out, Crystal Palace are looking to avoid losing their opening three Premier League matches of a campaign for the first time since 2017-18.
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Crystal Palace have conceded at least two goals in each of their last eight Premier League matches – they’ve never done so in nine league matches in a row in their league history.
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Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has lost both of his opening two Premier League games in charge of the club – never before in his managerial career has he lost three league games in a row.
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Source Matt Law at SportsMole/BBCSports