Crystal Palace Seek First Points Against Fulham
Crystal Palace head to Craven Cottage on Saturday still searching for their first win – and their first point – of the new Premier League season, with pressure already beginning to nip at the heels of new manager Pierre Sage.
Two games, two defeats, six goals conceded. It has been a harsh introduction.
A 2–0 loss at Everton on the opening weekend was followed by a bruising 4–1 home defeat to Manchester City. Palace have looked fragile at the back and blunt at the other end; their only goal so far came via an own goal, an uncomfortable reminder of the lack of cutting edge in Sage’s attack.
Now comes a trip to Fulham, and with it an early chance to steady the ship.
Sage hit by injuries and absences
If the results have been rough, the team news has not been any kinder.
Sage must navigate a heavily depleted squad as he hunts those first points of the campaign. Star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is out for around three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury, stripping Palace of their primary focal point up front.
Ismaïla Sarr is also unavailable. The winger, dealing with a groin problem, has missed recent training sessions in the aftermath of a collapsed move to Liverpool, leaving another hole in the forward line.
At the back, defender Chadi Riad remains a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, stretching resources in a defence already under scrutiny after conceding six times in two outings.
The setbacks are piling up. Sage has little choice but to adapt quickly.
New faces ready to step in
Amid the problems, there is at least a hint of optimism.
A clutch of late transfer arrivals are now in the building and ready to contribute. Ben Chilwell, Honest Ahanor, Quinten Timber and Darío Osorio have all trained with the first team and are fully eligible to feature at Craven Cottage.
Osorio, in particular, is being lined up for early minutes out wide, with his direct running and energy seen as a way to offset the absence of Mateta and Sarr and inject some life into Palace’s attacking play.
The expectation is clear: the new signings are not here to ease in gently. They are here to change the mood.
How Palace could line up
Sage is expected to shuffle his pack again as he searches for a formula that can both tighten the back line and spark something going forward.
Possible Crystal Palace starting XI:
- Henderson;
- Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu;
- Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell;
- McNeil, Larsen, Pino.
It is a side that leans on versatility and work rate, with width from the wing-backs and creativity funnelled through the midfield trio. The question is whether it can finally deliver a cutting edge.
Kick-off and broadcast details
Fulham vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 3pm BST on Saturday, 5th September at Craven Cottage.
The match will not be televised in the UK due to the 3pm blackout, so Palace’s response to their early-season troubles will unfold away from the cameras.
For Sage and his players, that might be no bad thing. What matters now is not how it looks, but how quickly they can turn this start into something more stable – and whether this trip to west London becomes the moment their season finally wakes up.
