Fulham v Palace

Craven Cottage, Saturday 3.00pm

The Barclays Premier League trophy

Team news

New midfielder Max Meyer is not match fit to make his Eagles debut having not played a competitive match since April, nor during pre-season.

Deadline day signing Jordan Ayew also didn't train over the summer so is a doubt, but former West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate is in line for a first start.

Spanish signing Vicente Guaita could play in goal for his Palace bow after Wayne Hennessey picked up a knock in last week's friendly against Toulouse.

Centre back Scott Dann (knee) is still a few weeks away and Jonny Williams and Connor Wickham (both thigh strains) are out.

Fulham's record buy Jean Michael Seri and forward Andre Schurrle are set for their debuts at Craven Cottage. Centre half Alfie Mawson is sidelined until September after undergoing knee surgery, while defender Dennis Odoi is suspended.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"Of course it's important [to start well], we know more than most what a bad start can bring. Every manager doing interviews will be receiving the same question and not one will say it doesn't matter. We all want a good start. I'm afraid to be a winner there has to be a loser.

"If we get off to a good start, someone will get off to a bad start. That's the nature of the business. I think all you can is ensure your team is in the best possible shape and prepared physically and mentally to play in that first game and have all the tools at their disposal to make a good game of it.

"The beauty of football is you don't know what will happen after that. We feel we are ready to get victories and points but time will tell. You well have to wait for the first 640 minutes of football and after that 640 minutes you will then be able to make a comparison."

Slavisa Jokanovic

"Crystal Palace are a Premier League team and it’s definitely more experienced than us in this level.

"All of us know how they are dangerous in this offensive side with Benteke, Zaha and Townsend but me must take care of Milivojevic too who is a player that hurts teams and many things depend on this guy. We make the analysis of this team and we believe we are ready.

"It’s great experience for us, it’s my first chance for coaching in this level and probably dream for all the coaches to have this opportunity and I will push hard to be successful."

Fulham - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
9th	0	0	0	0	0

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
11/05/2014	League	Fulham	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
21/10/2013	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 4	Fulham
01/01/2005	League	Fulham	3 - 1	Crystal Palace
04/10/2004	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 0	Fulham
17/03/2001	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Fulham

All time results

Last meeting

Fulham 2-2 Palace

Sunday May 11 2014

Fulham: Stockdale, Heitinga, Hangeland, Amorebieta, Zverotic (Dejagah, 50), Sidwell, Parker, Richardson (Tunnicliffe, 79), Kacaniklic (David, 23), Rodallega, Woodrow

Subs not used: Williams, Kasami, Mitroglou, Joronen

Goals: Woodrow (61), David (90)

Bookings: Amorebieta, Parker, David

Palace: Hennessey, Dann, Mariappa, Ward, Delaney, Ledley, Bolasie, Jedinak (Dikgacoi, 59), Ince (Puncheon, 71), Gayle, Chamakh (Murray, 74)

Subs not used: Speroni, O'Keefe, Gabbidon, Jerome

Goals: Gayle (28, 83)

Bookings: Chamakh