Fulham suffered a third consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace in a match they largely dominated. Ben Chilwell came off the bench to score the winner for the visitors, condemning Álvaro Arbeloa's side to a pointless start to the season.
Fulham created numerous chances and had almost 65% of the possession. They also registered 25 shots on goal. Josh King gave the hosts an early lead, and after Tyrick Mitchell equalised for Palace, César Palacios put Fulham back in front. Despite this control, defensive lapses proved costly. Eddie Nketiah set up Mitchell for his second to make it 2-2, and substitute Ben Chilwell struck the decisive blow late on. Fulham have now conceded seven goals in their first three league matches, a record that leaves them 16th in the Premier League with 0 points from 0 wins, 0 draws, and 2 losses. Their goal difference stands at -2, having scored just twice.
Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa was left frustrated by the outcome. "We lost a game that we didn’t deserve to lose," he said. "But in football you need to take your chances and they did that better than us." His opposite number, Pierre Sage, acknowledged his team's fortune. "Today’s lesson was free because we won but we were inefficient in buildup during the first half," the Palace boss admitted. The victory maintained Sage's personal record of never losing three games in a row as a manager.
Alex Iwobi, now 30 and one of a select group to have played 100 or more Premier League games for three different clubs, started in midfield. New £30 million signing Shea Charles from Southampton was also involved. Oscar Bobb delivered a cross for one of the many chances, while goalkeeper Bernd Leno was beaten three times. Defensive errors played a part, with Jaydee Canvot making a sloppy early pass and Gonzalo García missing a clearance in the build-up to a Palace chance. Substitute Ryan Sessegnon hit the side netting with a late opportunity to snatch a draw. The team's injury situation is a concern, with Tom Cairney and David Affengruber currently sidelined.
This defeat continues a miserable opening to the campaign for Arbeloa, who only took over at Craven Cottage a few months after managing Real Madrid. The loss means Fulham are already six points behind early leaders Manchester City in the title race. Their next challenge is a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, who are fifth in the table, on September 12. Fans can view the full schedule on the fixtures page. The scale of the task is clear from the current standings, which show Fulham rooted to the bottom. The club must find a way to convert their possession and chances into points quickly.
