Football Review | Fulham 2 - 3 Crystal Palace

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Ben Chilwell marked his return to Crystal Palace with a goal

The Eagles twice came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory at Fulham.

Author | Jamie P

Stadium | Craven Cottage

The former Chelsea player Chilwell, 29, rejoined Palace on Tuesday on a free transfer from Strasbourg, having spent the second half of the 2024-25 season there on loan from Stamford Bridge.

Just three minutes after replacing fellow left wing-back Tyrick Mitchell, who scored Palace’s first two goals, Chilwell pounced on a loose ball after Fulham failed to clear an attack from Pierre Sage’s side and thumped his finish into the net.

A closer analysis of what happened

Fulham had taken an early lead through a deflected effort from teenage midfielder Josh King, but Mitchell quickly levelled with a close-range finish from a tight angle.

View from the away end

Spanish winger Cesar Palacios then opened his Fulham account following his summer move from Real Madrid, restoring the hosts’ advantage before the break. Mitchell equalised for a second time early in the second half, capitalising after Fulham made a mess of clearing his initial effort, with the ball eventually trickling over the line.

The victory gives Sage his first win as Palace head coach since replacing Oliver Glasner over the summer.

Fulham, meanwhile, have now suffered three successive league defeats since the arrival of former Real Madrid boss Arbeloa.

Arbeloa's difficult start worsens with third league defeat

Despondent Fulham players

Alongside newly promoted Coventry City, Fulham became only the second team to have played three Premier League games this season and lost every one of them.

On paper, Fulham have not been handed the kindest of opening fixtures, with Chelsea visiting Craven Cottage before back-to-back meetings with Sunderland and Palace, both of whom will compete in this season's Europa League.

As in their opening-day derby defeat by Chelsea, Fulham scored twice but conceded three goals that were largely avoidable.

Fulham boss responds to defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
pic.twitter.com/KpUYgAbS1H

— European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) September 6, 2026

The fixtures do not become any kinder from here. Fulham travel to Anfield next weekend to face Liverpool before hosting Manchester United in their final league game ahead of the international break.

There were boos and disparaging chants directed towards Arbeloa at full-time. With three defeats and seven goals conceded from their opening three matches, matters could easily deteriorate further for a side many tipped for a relegation battle in their pre-season predictions.