Carabao Cup

Fulham v Crystal Palace Carabao Cup preview: TV, form, prediction and travel

Fulham v Crystal Palace brings a short London journey and a significant cup opportunity, with the sides only two league places apart as they compete for a Carabao Cup quarter-final place.

Archive interior photograph of Craven Cottage

Fulham v Crystal Palace

Craven CottageKick-off: Wednesday 28 October, 19:45 GMTUK TV: Sky Sports+

Last 5 league games · oldest → newest · points

FulhamDDLWW8Crystal PalaceLDWLL4

League head-to-head

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Last 13 recorded league meetings · past 10 years

Have your say

Fan Banter Prediction · 90 minutes

Fulham to win.

Fulham have won their last two league games, while Palace lost their latest league outing. Home advantage gives the hosts a narrow edge over 90 minutes.

Away-fan travel · 9 miles · allow about 1h by carEstimated road journey · Selhurst Park → Craven Cottage

OUTWARD · ARRIVE 90–60 MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFFWed 17:30 leave → Wed 18:15–18:45 arrive

RETURN · BACK AT THE AWAY CLUB’S GROUNDWed 22:15 leave → Wed 23:15 back

Fulham v Crystal Palace Carabao Cup preview: 9-mile road journey and 2 league places between the clubs

Fulham v Crystal Palace brings a short London journey and a significant cup opportunity, with the sides only two league places apart as they compete for a Carabao Cup quarter-final place.

2 league places between the sides.
Fulham: 15th in Premier League. Crystal Palace: 17th in Premier League. Both positions are from the same league table.

Team news: injuries, suspensions and availability

Fulham: Fulham’s latest club update before the Coventry match reported no injury absences, with Hugo Larsson and Emile Smith Rowe expected back after knocks. Ryan Sessegnon’s three-match suspension is a separate restriction and covers the cup tie. A fresh cup-specific fitness update is still awaited.

Crystal Palace: Palace remain without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Chadi Riad. Quinten Timber has been nursing a thigh problem, while Jorgen Strand Larsen needs assessment after coming off in Europe. Dean Henderson has returned to training after a foot injury, but his availability still needs confirmation. Jean-Philippe Mateta played against Newcastle and Ben Chilwell returned to the matchday squad, so neither should be treated as a confirmed injury absence.

Latest available updates checked 26 October 2026 · Fulham’s official team-news update · Latest Palace fitness update

Match preview: where the tie could be decided

Fulham’s consecutive 1–0 league wins over Coventry and Hull have given them something firmer to build on. They sit 15th, two positions above Palace. The recent results suggest a route through this tie based on keeping the contest controlled and making an attacking breakthrough count, although their 3–2 win at West Ham in the previous round also showed they can survive a less settled cup match.

Palace’s last league game brought a 2–0 home defeat by Newcastle, while a 2–2 European draw at Besiktas offered a different test. Their 3–0 cup win over Middlesbrough is the result they will want to build from here. A quarter-final would give their season a tangible target beyond the immediate pressure of their league position.

Palace won the most recent league meeting between these clubs 3–2 at Craven Cottage. That history gives the visitors encouragement, but Fulham’s latest league wins change the immediate context. The hosts need to maintain their recent defensive discipline; Palace need to make their attacking possession productive without allowing a short away trip to become a long evening spent chasing the ball.

How both teams reached the fourth round

Fulham won 3–2 at West Ham in the third round. Palace beat Middlesbrough 3–0. This round keeps both in London, with an estimated nine-mile road journey between Selhurst Park and Craven Cottage.

When is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?

The draw takes place on Wednesday 28 October, after Liverpool v Chelsea on Sky Sports. Dave Jones hosts, with Conor Coady and Graeme Le Saux making the draw. There is no fixed draw time: the 8pm match could go to penalties. Quarter-final ties are scheduled for the week commencing 14 December 2026.

This fourth-round tie has no extra time: if the scores are level after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties. The prediction and supporter poll above refer to the score after 90 minutes, rather than which team qualifies.

What is the financial reward for a cup run?

There is no fixed prize-fund payment for winning this fourth-round tie. The reported competition awards are £100,000 for the winners, £50,000 for the runners-up and £25,000 for losing semi-finalists. Those are awards for the finishing stage, rather than a cumulative payment for every round.

The clubs also share net gate receipts after permitted match costs. Television selections can bring facility fees, with the amount depending on the round and broadcast arrangements. Those sources of income are separate from prize money.

Image credits

Stadium photo: EL Loko · CC BY 4.0 · cropped for layout · cropped. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors / OSRM. Trophy: VEO15 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · adapted.