Fulham and Crystal Palace clash in relegation scrap

The winner of this London derby will be in an important position come the end of the game as both are in the current relegation dogfight.

Palace could move seven points clear of the drop zone while Fulham could get three closer to getting out. Roy Hodgson’s men have sustained a run of form after drawing 1-1 with fellow strugglers Southampton and beating Tottenham 2-0 in the FA Cup.

While Claudio Ranieri’s men were on a run of four defeats before they overcame a two-goal deficit going into the break by scoring four and beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2, a match that has the potential to be a huge turning point in the London side’s season.

Former Fulham manager Roy Hodgson spoke about current Whites manager Ranieri:

“We have both worked abroad. He was one of my biggest rivals at Inter, when he was at Fiorentina. We had some good matches, and I knew Claudio Ranieri from that moment. We also met in the cup, not just the league. And I have come across him many times when I was working with national teams.”

“We go back quite a long way, without becoming close friends, but perhaps close acquaintances. He was very helpful to me when I went to Serie A. There isn’t a great deal of contact with the other coaches in Italy, but he went out of his way to extend a welcoming hand.”

“He is a good manager with a good knowledge of football and bringing out the best in players. His CV shows that without a shadow of doubt.”

Ranieri had this to say about the match:

“We have a chance to survive but I want to see next match and after, the next match and the next match. One half is not enough for me, I am confident with my players but we must forget what happened.”

“It’s crucial for us. Every match is crucial, it’s a battle and we must show our best to stay together and play with the right discipline and score goals without conceding.”

Both James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate are both unlikely to be involved for the home side, Kouyate has a twisted ankle so is ruled out completely while Tomkins was subbed off in Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw with Southampton with a suspected hamstring injury.

Attacker Wilfried Zaha is suspended while Michy Batshuayi is fully fit and ready to feature for his new side after signing on-loan from Chelsea.

The Cottagers are likely to welcome Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa back into the team after returning from his knee injury, while both deadline-day signings Havard Nordtveit and Lazar Markovic will face fitness tests to see if they can play

Joe Bryan is not expected to play for Ranieri’s side but could return if ruled fit; meanwhile, Alfie Mawson continues to spend time on the medical table as he tries to return from his knee injury.

Winger Andros Townsend has been Crystal Palace’s main attacking threat this season, scoring the club’s most goals as the Englishman has scored seven times 29 games for the London club.

Zaha has assisted the most goals this season in an Eagles shirt setting up five in 23 matches for the South East London side; therefore, goalscoring duties will be left with Andros Townsend, who has scored three times this term.

Aleksandar Mitrović leads the scoring ranks for Fulham netting ten in 26 for his side, last scoring a double in their most recent match aganist Brighton & Hove Albion. Ryan Sessegnon has created the most goals for his side playing a part in five goals in 25 matches so far this season.