Will the Eagles extend their home winning streak?
On Boxing Day, two direct table neighbours face each other in a London city derby. Crystal Palace have 19 points from 14 league games and are currently eleventh. Fulham have already played 15 games and are in ninth place with 19 points. The Eagles are currently unbeaten against the Cottagers in five meetings, which is why betting on Crystal Palace against Fulham tends to favour the home side.
In addition, the Glaziers have won all of their last three Premier League home games and are in good form. On the other hand, the Cottagers have only won one of the last 28 London derbies in the Premier League (five draws, 22 defeats), which is why the first prediction for Crystal Palace against Fulham is for the Eagles to win at home.
However, it must also be taken into account that the Cottagers are playing a really strong season. Most recently, the two games against Manchester City and Manchester United were both narrowly lost 2-1 by a goal conceded in the 90th minute of the game. Before that, Fulham picked up eight points out of a possible twelve. A point win for the West Londoners is therefore not out of the question.
Accordingly, it is coherent to switch to a goal bet. Also because Fulham already have the seventh-best attack in the Premier League with 24 goals, we see a lot of value in betting that both teams will score on Boxing Day.
Crystal Palace – Statistics & current form
Crystal Palace have been in the Premier League consistently since the summer of 2013. Admittedly, the Glaziers did not finish a single season in the top half of the table during that era. However, the South Londoners did not really have anything to do with relegation either.
Only last season, Patrick Vieira led the Eagles to a rock-solid twelfth place in the final table. The two-time FA Cup finalists are currently in a similarly good position. With 19 points out of a possible 42, Crystal Palace are eleventh in the table, six points clear of the first relegation place.
Recent three Premier League home wins in a row
However, there was also a major setback for the Glaziers before the World Cup break. After losing on penalties to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup, the south Londoners lost their last league match so far 1-0 away to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
However, at least at home at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace have been doing extremely well of late. Vieira’s side have won their last three Premier League home games in a row. For the first time since December 1990, the Eagles could now record four home wins in a row in England’s top flight.
None of the last five London derbies lost to Fulham
With that said, the South Londoners go into the London derby favoured. In Crystal Palace v Fulham, the betting odds swing in the direction of the Eagles, who have won just one of their last seven Premier League games on Boxing Day but are unbeaten in five meetings with the Cottagers (three wins, two draws).
With the home-strong Glaziers having gone three of their last four Premier League home games against Fulham without conceding a goal, it makes sense to bet on the south Londoners to take the point. However, because the Cottagers arrive in strong form, bets on them should always be hedged.
Predicted line-up of Crystal Palace:
Guaita – Mitchell – Guéhi – Andersen – Clyne – Schlupp – Doucouré – Olise – Eze – Ayew – Zaha
Last matches played by Crystal Palace:
Club friendlies
17/12/2022 – Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Real Valladolid
11/12/2022 – Crystal Palace 1 – 3 SSC Napoli
07/12/2022 – Trabzonspor 2 – 2 Crystal Palace
03/12/2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Botafogo RJ
Premier League
12/11/2022 – Nottingham Forest 1 – 0 Crystal Palace
Fulham – Statistics & current form
Fulham Football Club were relegated to the Championship in the summer of 2014 after a long spell in the top flight of English football. Since then, the West Londoners have ridden the lift between the country’s two top divisions. In 2018, they returned to the Premier League, from which Fulham were relegated twice in 2019 and 2021.
This summer, FFC once again achieved direct promotion as champions of the Championship under Marco Silva, after which things are finally going well again in the Premier League.
Six points clear of the first relegation place
Fulham have won five of their first 15 league games and currently sit ninth in the table with 19 points. Although the Cottagers are not out of the woods yet, they have been able to follow the World Cup comparatively carefree lately.
In particular, things went well in the games before the World Cup break. After the West Londoners had taken eight out of a possible twelve points from four consecutive league games, the last two games against Manchester City and Manchester United were both lost 2-1 by a goal conceded in the 90th minute of the game.
The seventh best attack in the Premier League
One reason the Cottagers have performed so well so far is the scoring prowess of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is already on nine goals scored in league action. In total, Fulham have the seventh-best attack in the Premier League with 24 goals.
This makes it all the more difficult to rule out betting on a point for Crystal Palace against Fulham, who do not have a bad record on Boxing Day either. With no less than six draws, Fulham have lost only one of their last eight Premier League games on this particular matchday.
Predicted Fulham line-up:
Leno – Robinson – Adarabioyo – Diop – Reid – Cairney – Palhinha – Willian – Pereira – Wilson – Mitrovic
Last matches played by Fulham:
Friendly club matches
17/12/2022 – Fulham 1 – 1 West Ham
Premier League
13/11/2022 – Fulham 1 – 2 Manchester United
05/11/2022 – Manchester City 2 – 1 Fulham
29/10/2022 – Fulham 0 – 0 Everton
23/10/2022 – Leeds 2 – 3 Fulham
Crystal Palace – Fulham Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 14 – 16 – 17
There are a total of 47 meetings between the two teams and with 17 wins, Fulham lead the direct comparison by a narrow margin. However, Crystal Palace have recently gone unbeaten in five straight league games against the Cottagers (three wins, two draws).
Crystal Palace – Fulham Tip
For both teams, there is a strong case to be made for a point on Boxing Day. Accordingly, it is difficult to make a prediction on the outcome of the match between Crystal Palace and Fulham. While the Eagles have recently recorded three home wins in a row in the Premier League, Fulham have lost just two of their last six league games and were unfortunate losers on both occasions when a last-minute goal was conceded.
Also because of the offensive qualities of the Cottagers, a hotly contested London derby is to be expected on Boxing Day. There is a lot of value in betting that both teams will score.
