This isn’t the London Derby everyone is talking about (that would be Sunday’s Arsenal vs. Chelsea tie), but there’s plenty on the line for both Fulham and Crystal Palace, who have yet to earn a point at this early junction of the season. The good news? At least one side will change that situation (possibly both).
Fulham Recent Form
To paraphrase an old joke about the state of Ohio, Fulham’s campaign so far has been low at both ends and high in the middle. The high point came in their Carabao Cup tie against League One’s AFC Wimbledon. Only two-thirds of Craven Cottage was filled to see this mid-week fixture that was more training ground beatdown than battle. Fulham dictated the pace, controlled the possession and thoroughly dominated the Dons in a 3-0 victory. The most significant moment came deep in stoppage time when Gonzalo García, after subbing in late, scored his second goal for the Cottagers. That makes two goals in three appearances for García, who left Real Madrid for $45M to rejoin head coach Álvaro Arbaloa in London.
That comfortable win was bookended by two disheartening league losses. In their home opener, Chelsea’s João Pedro scored within the first minute, a far-from-auspicious omen. Fulham did well to rally, leveling the score in the first half when Joshua King’s stoppable shot was inexplicably missed by Roberto Sánchez. García opened his account in the second half after Fulham were already 3-1 down, giving some hope to the home crowd, but they couldn’t find another to level it at full time.
The Cottagers also stumbled up at Sunderland, falling 1-0 to the hosts. Outstanding defensive work from Nordi Mukiele stymied any counter-attacks Fulham mounted from their low block. The first half was a cautious affair, offering no real threats from either side, and Fulham’s second half adjustments did nothing to improve their fortune. They ended the match with zero shots on goal, while Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor only needed one of his two shots to find the net (the second struck the post) for the victory.
Crystal Palace Recent Form
The South London club is roiling at the moment. New gaffer Pierre Sage is rapidly trying to get accustomed to a new league with a side that lost two key defenders (Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz) and features two key attackers whose dedication to the kit is less than 100% (looking at you Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr). Profligacy is a key word at Selhurst Park right now. Palace squandered too many chances early at Everton (oh cursed woodwork!) and lost 2-0. Their home opener the following week against Manchester City was a shambles as the Cityzens carved through the Palace defense en route to a 4-1 win. Even their goal was credited to a Gianluigi Donnarumma deflection, despite Yéremy Pino’s outstanding free kick effort.
Eight transfers on Deadline Day hasn’t exactly instilled any more confidence in the Eagles. Quinten is the lesser of the Timber twins (Jurriën plays for Arsenal), but provided he can stay fit should be solid (if uninspiring). Bringing back Ben Chilwell, who was part of the side that lifted the FA Cup back in May 2025, is like placing a colorful band-aid over the wound left by Muñoz’s departure and Riad’s season-ending injury. The club’s inability to close Lyon’s Malick Fofana in the waning hours was a big blow to Sage’s plans.
The one silver lining for Palace is their recent form against Fulham at Craven Cottage. They’ve scored in seven straight visits, and their past three have seen victories with a total scoreline of 7-1. Of course, with Mateta and Sarr out with injury, it will fall to Eddie Nketiah and Jørgen Strand-Larsen to pick up the slack, something they’ve failed mightily at so far.
Critical “Must Win” Fixture
Although it’s only Matchday 3, this tie has the aura of a season-defining meeting. Fulham’s supporters and coaching staff will know that the last two times they lost their three opening matches in the Premier League, they were relegated that same season. That gives this game much more gravity. Palace are simply looking for some sort of balance.
According to Opta, based on their earlier performances both sides are currently heavily favored for relegation, along with Coventry and Ipswich. An emphatic win, heck, even a lucky win, would go far to lifting the weight off the new coaches shoulders and lighten the encroaching gloom.
Possible Starting XI
Fulham
Leno;
Robinson, Bassey, Andersen, Castagne;
Iwobi, Berge;
Palacios, King, Bobb;
García
Crystal Palace
Henderson;
Tomiyasu, Richards, Canvot;
Mitchell, Kamada, Wharton, Khalaili;
McNeil, Pino;
Nketiah
