Fulham welcome Crystal Palace to Craven Cottage for a highly anticipated London derby this Sunday.
The hosts aim to recover from a chaotic midweek defeat against Manchester City. Marco Silva’s side unfortunately lost 5-4 in a match where they scored four times at home. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace arrive in West London chasing a spot in the Champions League.
Oliver Glasner’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table following a win over Burnley. Consequently, they will look to exploit any defensive fragility shown by their opponents. This clash represents a significant test for two teams with contrasting recent fortunes. Therefore, fans can expect an intriguing tactical battle on the banks of the Thames. The visitors will rely heavily on their defensive organisation to secure a result.
Fulham vs Crystal Palace – Match Preview and Team News
Date: Sunday, 7 December 2025
Kick-off: 16:30 GMT
Venue: Craven Cottage, London
Referee: Samuel Barrott
VAR: Darren England
Last Meeting: Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace, 29 March 2025, FA Cup
Team News
Fulham
Marco Silva has a mostly healthy squad available for selection this weekend. However, the manager remains without full-back Antonee Robinson due to a knee issue. Additionally, striker Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable as he recovers from a thigh injury.
Furthermore, Silva faces a difficult decision regarding in-form winger Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian scored twice midweek and averages a goal contribution every 46 minutes this season. Consequently, he is pushing hard to start ahead of Harry Wilson on the flank.
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner hopes Borna Sosa will return to the squad after missing three matches. The defender has been sidelined recently with a minor knock but could feature here. His return would provide a significant boost to the Eagles’ backline options.
In contrast, Ismaïla Sarr remains unavailable because of an ongoing ankle injury. Moreover, Cheick Doucouré, Chadi Riad, and Caleb Kporha are all long-term absentees. Therefore, Daichi Kamada is expected to operate in an advanced role supporting Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Form
Fulham
Fulham currently occupy 15th place and sit five points above the relegation zone. Their recent form has been inconsistent as they alternate results in their last five home derbies. Although they scored four goals midweek, they have not beaten Palace at home in the league since 2005.
Crystal Palace
Palace boast the division’s second-best defensive record with only 11 goals conceded all season. Consequently, they have kept clean sheets in four of their previous five league outings. The Eagles aim to win back-to-back London derbies for the first time since 2017.
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage begins at 16:00 GMT.
