Fulham vs Crystal Palace brings a tight London derby to Craven Cottage on Sunday night as both sides look to stabilize their inconsistent form. With a cool 14°C, a packed riverside stadium, and two teams known for high-work-rate football, this fixture promises intensity, tactical discipline, and dangerous counterattacks.
Fulham come into this match after a roller-coaster stretch, highlighted by a thrilling 4–5 loss to Manchester City. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, grabbed an important away win over Burnley but remain unpredictable under fluctuating form.
With both managers needing points and both squads carrying key injuries, this match feels like a tightly contested, low-margin affair.
Match Overview – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Fulham vs Crystal Palace |
| Competition | Premier League 2025/26 |
| Date & Kick-Off | Sunday, December 07, 2025 – 22:00 |
| Venue | Craven Cottage, London |
| Capacity | 29,130 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Weather | 14°C – Cool, Light Breeze |
Fulham will again rely heavily on creativity from Harry Wilson, Iwobi, and Smith Rowe, while Palace’s attack leans on the league’s in-form striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (7 goals).
Both sides are missing multiple first-team players, which could influence tempo and depth options.
Recent Form Guide – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Fulham – Last 5 Matches
Fulham remain unpredictable: strong attacking phases but defensive lapses in big fixtures.
| Match | Result | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs Manchester City (02/12) | Loss | 4–5 | Loss |
| vs Tottenham (29/11) | Win | 2–1 | Win |
| vs Sunderland (22/11) | Win | 1–0 | Win |
| vs Everton (08/11) | Loss | 0–2 | Loss |
| vs Wolves (01/11) | Win | 3–0 | Win |
Crystal Palace – Last 5 Matches
Palace show resilience away from home, but overall form remains inconsistent.
| Match | Result | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs Burnley (03/12) | Win | 1–0 | Win |
| vs Man United (30/11) | Loss | 1–2 | Loss |
| vs Strasbourg (27/11) | Loss | 1–2 | Loss |
| vs Wolves (22/11) | Win | 2–0 | Win |
| vs Brighton (09/11) | Draw | 0–0 | Draw |
Head-to-Head –Fulham vs Crystal Palace ( Last 5 Meetings)
| Date | Match | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 2025 | Fulham vs Crystal Palace | 0–2 | Palace |
| 09 Nov 2024 | Crystal Palace vs Fulham | 0–2 | Fulham |
| 27 Apr 2024 | Fulham vs Palace | 1–1 | Draw |
| 23 Sep 2023 | Palace vs Fulham | 0–0 | Draw |
| 20 May 2023 | Palace vs Fulham | 2–2 | Draw |
Summary:
- Wins (Total): 5 each
- Draws: 5
- Fulham Home Wins: 2
- Palace Away Wins: 3
A historically balanced fixture.
Key Players to Watch
Fulham – Harry Wilson
3 Goals • 1 Assist • 13 Matches
Wilson’s creativity, set-piece delivery, and movement between lines make him Fulham’s main threat—especially against Palace’s three-man defense.
Crystal Palace – Jean-Philippe Mateta
7 Goals • 14 Matches
Mateta is in lethal form this season. His physicality and finishing make him Palace’s biggest weapon, especially with service from Pino and Kamada.
Predicted Lineups – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno – Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Sessegnon – Sasa Lukic, Sander Berge – Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi – Raúl Jiménez.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Dean Henderson – Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi – Daniel Muñoz, Adam Wharton, Jefferson Lerma, Tyrick Mitchell – Daichi Kamada, Yéremi Pino – Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Unavailable Players – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
| Team | Unavailable Players | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham | Antonee Robinson, Rodrigo Muniz | Injuries |
| Crystal Palace | Chadi Riad, Borna Sosa, Caleb Kporha, Cheick Doucouré, Ismaila Sarr | Injuries |
Statistical Projection – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
| Metric | Fulham | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 52% | 48% |
| Shots on Target | 4–6 | 4–7 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.2–1.6 | 1.3–1.7 |
| Clean Sheet Probability | 28% | 32% |
| Corners | 4–6 | 3–5 |
| Big Chances | 2–3 | 2–4 |
| Goal Probability | 76% | 81% |
| Most Likely Scorer | Raúl Jiménez | Jean-Philippe Mateta |
This matchup projects to be very close, with Palace having a slight edge in chance creation.
Prediction Summary – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Why Fulham Could Win
- Strong recent home performances
- Wilson and Smith Rowe link-up play improving
- Palace struggle to defend wide overloads
Why Crystal Palace Could Win
- Mateta in top scoring form
- Compact 3-4-2-1 shape suits away matches
- High-quality midfield ball-winners (Lerma, Wharton)
This fixture historically leans toward tight draws—and both teams currently show similar strengths and weaknesses.
Final Score Prediction: Fulham 1–1 Crystal Palace
Likely Scorers:
- Harry Wilson (Fulham)
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Confidence Levels:
- Draw – 46%
- Crystal Palace Win – 32%
- Fulham Win – 22%
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Betting Tips – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
- Both Teams to Score: Yes
- Match Result: Draw
- Total Goals: Under 2.5
- Anytime Scorer: Jean-Philippe Mateta
- Correct Score (High Value): 1–1 Draw
FAQs – Fulham vs Crystal Palace
1.When is the match?
Sunday, December 07, 2025 at 22:00 (Craven Cottage).
2.Which team is in better form?
Crystal Palace slightly, due to their away win at Burnley.
3.Who are the top scorers entering this match?
Harry Wilson (Fulham) – 3 goals
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Palace) – 7 goals
4.What is the predicted scoreline?
Fulham 1–1 Crystal Palace
5.What kind of match should we expect?
A balanced tactical battle with cautious buildup, narrow margins, and both teams creating similar-quality chances.