Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Fulham – team news, lineups, prediction, live stream

Defeats to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League without scoring a goal was far from the ideal way for Palace to enter the World Cup break, and the Eagles were also left wanting in more than one of their winter friendlies.

A total of 19 points from 14 matches has left Palace within touching distance of the top half, but a paltry tally of 15 goals is only better than that of the bottom five teams in the division, and both of their most recent Boxing Day fixtures have ended in 3-0 defeats.

Only Leicester City (25) have scored more goals than Fulham (24) outside of the Premier League’s top six this season, and the Cottagers’ only winter friendly ended in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United last Saturday, where Carlos Vinicius made the net ripple in the absence of the prolific Aleksandar Mitrovic.

None of Fulham’s last five Premier League games against Crystal Palace has ended in victory for the Cottagers, who most recently held the Eagles to a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park in February 2021, and it has been over nine years since the visitors last scored or won at Selhurst Park.

A defensive reshuffle will be in order for Crystal Palace, who have lost Marc Guehi to a one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, so James Tomkins should step in alongside returning Dane Joachim Andersen.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is expected to remain sidelined until February with a coccyx injury, but he has company in the form of James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson, both of whom are unlikely to be back in action before the New Year.

Competition for spots alongside talisman Zaha in the attack is as rife as ever for Palace, and the returning Jordan Ayew could be given the nod alongside Odsonne Edouard for the capital clash.

As for Fulham, nine-goal striker Mitrovic returned from the World Cup still nursing a slight foot injury, and Silva has admitted that the Serbia international may not be ready for Boxing Day – the same can be said for left-back Antonee Robinson and his own foot problem.

A third successive Premier League start could come the way of Vinicius as Mitrovic eyes a potential comeback against Southampton on New Year’s Eve, while Tim Ream could possibly be required at left-back if Robinson does not make the cut.