Fulham coach Marco Silva is always wary of the difficulties that await teams at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace away was a fantastic trip for Fulham last season as we saw off Patrick Vieira’s team 3-0 on Boxing Day, but we’re all fully aware of how disciplined a team Roy Hodgson – who will be back on the touchline following illness – coaches.
“A really tough one, as we expected last season as well,” Silva replied when asked what sort of match he’s anticipating on Saturday. “Of course, the game [last season] went really well in our way.
“After the World Cup break, it was a very good restart from ourselves. But even that game we expected to be really tough, and this game is going to be the same.
“They’re a quality team, well managed as well by Roy, and it’s going to be nice to see him back in the dugout again.
“Quality players, individual quality players up front who can decide a game in any moment of the match.
“The quality in their attack line is in a very good level, with a player behind the striker who is, in my opinion, a top, top player, [Ebere] Eze, who is always a difference on the pitch.
“They have two central defenders [Joachim Andersen & Marc Guehi] who feel really comfortable with the ball as well and start to create. It’s a very good squad and it will be a very good challenge for us.
“It’s always tough to play there, with the environment and the quality they have, but we like this type of challenge and it will be a good challenge for us after a tough win, but a good win, for us.”
After making the difference against Luton Town in his first appearance of the season, Carlos Vinicius will be hoping for more game time at the weekend.
Raúl Jiménez has been given the nod in every Premier League game so far and, though yet to find the net, has impressed, while Rodrigo Muniz provides an alternative option.
Keeping his cards close to his chest regarding who will lead the line against the Eagles, Silva said: “We have to wait until the game. We have three players that can play there – Carlos, Raúl and Rodrigo.
“And it’s up to me to decide regarding what we want for the match, the strategy, the opposition, and it’s up to me to decide.
“It’s always important for a striker to score, to have an impact, to be decisive. They can have this impact from the beginning, [or] coming from the bench ready to help the team, which is what Vini did last game.
“Three minutes after he came in, he scored. But, even without scoring, that’s what Raúl did as well for the team, trying to help the team in the minutes that he played.”
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