– Fulham have won only two of their last seven games
– Crystal Palace have won three successive Premier League matches
– Recommended bet: Tie or Crystal Palace double chance
There will be an air of relief around Craven Cottage on Saturday with London rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace both now assured of their places in the Premier League for next season.
The Eagles have climbed to safety by winning three successive games for the first time this season while Fulham have been inconsistent and have lost three of their last four matches.
Team news
Fulham are in good shape in terms of injuries. Willian missed last weekend’s defeat at home to Liverpool match with a groin strain but is in contention to return against Crystal Palace.
The Eagles, meanwhile, are still missing Marc Guehi (knee), Matheus Franca (adductor), Sam Johnstone (elbow), Cheick Doucoure (Achilles) and Jefferson Lerma (thigh), but Guehi is set to return to full training next week in his bid to earn a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.
The stats
Crystal Palace have won their last three Premier League games and have conceded only two goals in their last three away games.
The Eagles have scored in 12 of their last 13 games and their striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored seven goals in his last seven games.
Five of the last seven games between the teams have had under 2.5 goals while three of the last four have ended all-square.
Prediction
Crystal Palace’s best spell of the season has secured their survival in the Premier League and Oliver Glasner’s Eagles may not be finished yet.
Palace have beaten a trio of top-eight teams – Liverpool, West Ham and Newcastle – in their last three games and should be capable of picking up at least a point against Fulham on Saturday to continue their strong finish to the season.
The Cottagers have a couple of factors in their favour. They are stronger at home than away, with nine of their 12 league wins this season coming in front of their own fans, although they have suffered back-to-back defeats at the Cottage by losing to Newcastle and Liverpool.
The home team also have a freshness edge having not played since Sunday while the Eagles were in action against Newcastle on Wednesday.
The feelgood factor for the Eagles should outweigh any tiredness and they will be hungry for more success against a team who have won only one of their last five games.
The clubs’ first meeting this season was a goalless draw in September and the teams have shared the spoils in three of their last four encounters.
The current free-flowing Palace attack featuring Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze, Odsonne Eduard and Jordan Ayew makes them a more dangerous side than they have been at any other time this season and they have scored 10 goals in their last four games.
A fourth straight victory is possible for Palace but it may pay to be slightly more cautious and take them to either win or draw in the double-chance market.