Crystal Palace-Fulham is a match valid for the seventeenth day of the Premier League and is played on Monday at 16:00: predictions, TV, streaming
Another London derby on this special Boxing Day which coincides with the restart of the English top league after the World Cup break. Crystal Palace and Fulham both sit mid-table on 19 points, well clear of the relegation zone and yet not too far from Europe.
In comparison to Patrick Viera’s Eagles, Fulham had an extra game to play as Crystal Palace have to make up for the match against Brighton, which was postponed last September for public order reasons after the death of Queen Elizabeth. Zaha and his team-mates had ended the first part of the season in a bittersweet way: the two consecutive successes against Southampton and West Ham had been followed by the defeat on penalties against Newcastle in the League Cup and the one in the championship against the newly promoted Nottingham Forest. Crystal Palace had the chance to compete in four friendlies during this break, all of international level: there was even room for a test against Serie A leaders Napoli, won 3-1 by the Azzurri. The only success came against Spanish side Real Valladolid, who were beaten 2-1 thanks to a brace from the Ivorian striker.
Vieira will be able to count on the whole squad, with the exception of the defender Guéhi, disqualified because of the yellow he received against Forest. The two Qatar 2022 veterans, Dane Andersen and Ghanaian Ayew, will also be present: both should start from the 1′.
Fulham, the best of the newly-promoted sides in terms of performance, want to get back to scoring after the double consecutive defeat against the two Manchester clubs. Marco Silva’s men’s only friendly was against West Ham, which ended 1-1. The Cottagers, so far led by a Mitrovic in a state of grace, have shone above all offensively, scoring 24 goals but conceding 26 at the same time (fourth worst defence in the tournament).
Reid
The Prediction
Only Chelsea and Arsenal have managed to violate Selhurst Park this season, a pitch that is always very difficult to conquer. Crystal Palace are therefore slight favourites in a match that should not be short of goals, with at least three having been scored in 12 of Fulham’s last 13 games.
Crystal Palace-Fulham
Fulham’s likely line-up.
- CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Tomkins, Andersen, Mitchell; Olise, Doucouré, Schlupp; Ayew, Zaha, Eze.
- FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Chalobah, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Mitrovic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
