Prediction: Crystal Palace vs Fulham

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 23/10

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Battling history and recent struggles, Crystal Palace will aim to kick off 2026 on a positive note as they welcome Fulham to Selhurst Park on New Year’s Day.

The Eagles are desperate to halt a worrying slide, while the visitors arrive buoyed by a strong run of form that has lifted them into the top half of the Premier League table.

Crystal Palace

Palace have endured a torrid end to what has otherwise been a glorious year, failing to win any of their last five matches across all competitions, including three consecutive league defeats. Their last outing saw them fall 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, with Archie Gray’s first senior goal proving decisive. That setback followed a penalty-shootout exit to Arsenal in the EFL Cup, compounding a miserable December for Oliver Glasner’s side.

The Austrian coach admitted reinforcements are “clear” priorities in the January transfer window, but for now, he must rely on his current squad to arrest a slump that has left Palace ninth in the table, six points adrift of the top four.

Encouragingly, the Eagles claimed a 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage three weeks ago, extending their winning streak in this fixture to three across all competitions. However, their home record against the Cottagers tells a different story: Palace have not beaten Fulham at Selhurst Park since February 2019 and have failed to score in the last four meetings there.

Recent home form offers little comfort, with Palace winless in five on their own turf, including four league games (D1, L3). They have drawn blanks in three of those and lost the most recent three. Adding to the gloom, the South London club have never won a Premier League match on New Year’s Day, failing in six previous attempts.

Team News

Chris Richards remains doubtful after a foot injury sustained against Arsenal, which could force Glasner to deploy Jefferson Lerma in defense alongside Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi.

Daniel Munoz, Daichi Kamada, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, and Caleb Kporha are all sidelined, while Ismaila Sarr is away with Senegal at AFCON. Jean-Philippe Mateta, without a goal in seven games, will hope to rediscover his scoring touch.

Fulham

Marco Silva’s men head into the clash full of confidence after a 1-0 victory over West Ham, courtesy of Raul Jimenez’s late header. That win capped a run of three straight league triumphs, including a five-goal thriller at Burnley and a narrow success against Nottingham Forest.

Now level on points with Palace (26), Fulham could climb as high as seventh with another victory. They have also won their last three away games, two against London rivals, and a fourth would mark a historic first for the club.

Furthermore, they’ve also won three on the bounce away from home, two which were matches against rivals from the British capital.

Team News
Jimenez has scored in consecutive matches after a five-game drought, while Harry Wilson has contributed seven goal involvements in his last six appearances.

Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze remain on AFCON duty, Rodrigo Muniz is recovering from hamstring surgery, and Ryan Sessegnon is likely to miss out again.

Head-to-Head

Palace may have won the last three meetings overall, but Fulham’s record at Selhurst Park is impressive, with four unbeaten visits since 2019.

Eagles’ home struggles and historical New Year’s Day woes add intrigue to a fixture that rarely lacks drama.

Conclusion

Palace dominated possession against Spurs but lacked cutting edge, a recurring theme in recent weeks.

While Glasner’s side should find the net this time, their defensive frailties and Fulham’s momentum suggest the visitors could  leave South London with something to show for their efforts.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 23/10

Bookmaker: ZetBet