A New Year's Day Football Extravaganza: Palace vs. Fulham Showdown
Anticipating the Selhurst Park Showdown
On the inaugural day of 2026, Selhurst Park will be the epicenter of a compelling Premier League contest as Crystal Palace welcomes Fulham. Both clubs enter this fixture on an even keel, sharing 26 points after 18 league matches, a testament to their recent divergent paths in form.
Recent Encounters and Historical Performance
Fulham, despite their recent struggles against Palace, where they've suffered three consecutive defeats, will draw confidence from their last visit to Selhurst Park in November 2024, which concluded in a decisive 2-0 victory for the Cottagers.
Crystal Palace: Squad Updates and Player Status
Crystal Palace is grappling with a series of player absences. Chris Richards is sidelined for this match and potentially the subsequent game against Newcastle United, while Eddie Nketiah's return timeline remains uncertain. Other key players like Daniel Munoz, Daichi Kamada, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Rio Cardines, and Caleb Kporha are also unavailable due to injuries. Additionally, Ismaila Sarr is away representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Fulham: Squad Fitness and International Duties
Fulham's manager, Marco Silva, faces fewer injury woes, with only Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz nursing hamstring injuries. However, the club will be without Nigerian internationals Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze, who are all participating in the AFCON tournament.
Crystal Palace: Current Momentum and Recent Results
Crystal Palace finds itself in a challenging period, having failed to secure a win in their last five competitive matches. Their last Premier League victory dates back to early December against Fulham. The initial momentum from a three-game winning streak has dissipated, replaced by a series of losses against formidable opponents like Manchester City, Leeds, and Tottenham, alongside a draw with KuPS. Their League Cup campaign also concluded with a penalty shootout loss to Arsenal after a 1-1 draw.
Fulham: Resurgent Form and League Ambitions
Conversely, Fulham concluded 2025 on a positive note, demonstrating an improved run of form. The Whites have secured six wins in their last ten matches across all competitions, including consecutive festive period victories over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United. They are now aiming to achieve their first streak of three consecutive league wins since January 2023.
Potential Starting Lineups for the Encounter
Crystal Palace's probable starting eleven could feature Henderson in goal, a defensive trio of Guehi, Lacroix, and Lerma, with Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton, and Clyne in midfield. The attacking line might see Pino, Devenney, and Mateta leading the charge. For Fulham, Leno is expected in goal, supported by a back four of Robinson, Cuenca, Andersen, and Tete. Berge and Lukic are likely to anchor the midfield, with Kevin, Smith Rowe, and Wilson providing offensive support to striker Jiménez.
Broadcast Information for Live Viewing
Fans in the UK and Republic of Ireland can catch the live broadcast of the match on Sky Sports Premier League. Highlights of the game will be made available on the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel shortly after the final whistl