Crystal Palace face a vital Premier League test away at Fulham this Saturday, needing a result to kickstart their season. The Eagles sit 18th in the table with zero points after two defeats, a position reported by the BBC that underlines the early pressure on new manager Pierre Sage.
Pierre Sage has lost both of his opening two Premier League games in charge of the club. He has never lost three league games in a row in his managerial career, a record he will be desperate to maintain at Craven Cottage. A loss would see Palace equal an unwanted club record of losing their first three matches of a campaign, a feat last seen in the 2017-18 season.
What is Crystal Palace's current form?
Crystal Palace's start to the 2026-27 Premier League season has been difficult. They are 18th with 0 points, having lost both of their opening matches. Their recent form reads LL, with just one goal scored and six conceded, giving them a goal difference of minus five. This leaves them six points behind the early leaders, Manchester City. Defensively, there are clear issues, as the team has conceded at least two goals in each of their last eight Premier League matches.
You can track the team's progress throughout the season on our standings page. The next fixture, against Fulham on September 5th, represents a critical opportunity to stop the slide.
How have past meetings with Fulham gone?
History offers some encouragement for Crystal Palace ahead of this London derby. They are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League visits to Craven Cottage, winning four and drawing three. Fulham have managed only two wins in their last 13 league meetings with Palace, drawing six and losing five. Interestingly, both of those Fulham victories came at Selhurst Park, in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons. Palace also have a strong recent record in away London derbies, winning six of their last ten.
Who are the key players to watch?
For Fulham, Alex Iwobi could reach a personal milestone. This match could be his 100th Premier League appearance for the Cottagers, having previously played 100 times for Arsenal and 123 times for Everton. Achieving this would make him just the fifth player to make a century of appearances for three different clubs in the competition. Another Fulham player, Gonzalo García, has been active, making 29 off-ball runs in behind defences so far this season.
For Palace, the focus will be on shoring up a leaky defence while finding a way past a Fulham side that has also struggled. Marco Silva's team are 16th, also with zero points, after a 3-2 loss to Chelsea and a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland. Both teams will see this as a prime chance to get off the mark.
What does the fixture schedule look like?
Following the trip to Fulham, Crystal Palace's schedule continues with a series of important matches. Fans can view the full list of upcoming games on the club's fixtures page. Securing a positive result at Craven Cottage is important for building momentum and climbing out of the bottom three. The team's squad depth and tactical approach will be tested, and details on the available players can be found on our squad page.
The Premier League clash between Fulham and Crystal Palace kicks off at 15:00 UK time on Saturday, September 5th.
