Fulham vs Crystal Palace predictions: Home advantage gives Cottagers crucial edge
James Milton
Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa lost his first two Premier League matches in charge
Crystal Palace were thumped 4-1 by Manchester City in their most recent fixture
Recommended bet: Fulham to win, under 3.5 goals & Timothy Castagne to commit over 1.5 fouls at 5.5/1 with LiveScore Bet
Fulham and Crystal Palace meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday with both clubs having made slow starts under new managers Alvaro Arbeloa and Pierre Sage.
Fulham lost 3-2 to Chelsea in their opening home fixture of the Premier League season before a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
And former Lyon and Lens boss Sage kicked off his Palace career with a 2-0 loss at Everton and a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City.
Team news
Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney (knee) is out but David Affengruber, Manuel Angel and Hugo Larsson are hoping to make their first appearances for the club.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (thigh) and winger Ismaila Sarr (groin) are unavailable. Chadi Riad remains sidelined but deadline-day signings Honest Ahanor, Ben Chilwell, Quinten Timber and Dario Osorio could come into the squad.
The latest Fulham vs Crystal Palace odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Fulham claimed 11 of their 15 Premier League wins at home last season.
The Cottagers have won only one of their last seven league meetings with Crystal Palace.
Striker Gonzalo Garcia has scored in each of his last four home appearances for Fulham and Real Madrid.
Crystal Palace have not won any of their last nine top-flight matches.
The Eagles' last three league fixtures featured just five yellow cards.
Seven of Palace's last eight league games have produced over 2.5 goals.
The latest Fulham vs Crystal Palace odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Only two games into the Premier League season, Fulham and Crystal Palace are already feeling the heat but the Cottagers can make the most of home advantage in Saturday's fixture.
Palace manager Pierre Sage has been dealt a difficult hand, especially as key attacking players Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr are sidelined for the trip to Fulham.
Sarr had hoped to complete a move to Liverpool this week while Mateta, who scored the winner in last season's Conference League final, is also reportedly keen to leave Palace.
On-field results have not offered much encouragement for Sage, whose side lost 2-0 at Everton on the opening weekend before a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City.
Fulham are clearly not in the same class as City but they had a formidable home record under Marco Silva last season.
The Cottagers won 11 of their 19 league games at Craven Cottage and they showed glimpses of their quality in last month's 3-2 loss to Chelsea.
Alvaro Arbeloa will need to turn the Thames-side venue into a fortress again this term and Fulham should be backed to win a tight contest featuring under 3.5 goals.
Home defender Timothy Castagne has been getting stuck in this season, committing five fouls in 158 minutes of league action and picking up a yellow card against Chelsea.
The Belgian right-back could be up against talented winger Yeremy Pino, a World Cup winner with Spain, so Castagne is worth backing to be penalised at least twice on Saturday.
Score Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Crystal Palace
