Eze’s goal tally this season has been a little disappointing when looking at this shot volume. He’s only scored two Premier League goals this campaign but has had 83 shots (3.87 per 90) with 21 of these efforts finding the target (0.98 per 90) across his 24 appearances in the English top flight. He’s had two shots on target across his 175 minutes of football in the FA Cup this term (1.03 per 90) and comes into this game having scored his first ever goal for England over the international break. Eze plays just in behind the central striker in Oliver Glasner’s system which should aid him in getting shots off on goal here, especially from distance with Fulham traditionally quite stubborn in limiting space in their penalty box. Eze had four shots with two of these efforts finding the target in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win over Fulham just a few weeks ago. Palace only had 10 shots in the game which highlights how much of a threat Eze is for the Eagles with his tendency to step up in games and become the man that the Palace players look for in the final third.

Eze was brought down twice in Palace’s 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage a few weeks ago. This is not an anomaly for Eze who is regularly hacked down by the opposition as Palace’s most creative player. Eze drifts past players with ease and is highly likely to be targeted with his role in the middle of the park but also having the licence to drift to other areas of the pitch if Palace are struggling to get a foothold in the game. Eze has won 39 fouls across his 24 Premier League appearances this season (1.82 per 90) which is an average that highlights how effective he is when it comes to winning fouls over a longer period of time. Eze will line up against Sasa Lukic who is one of the most combative central midfielders in the Premier League as evidenced by the fact he’s averaging 2.53 fouls committed per 90 across his 22 Premier League appearances as well as picking up ten yellow cards across this period. Lukic committed three fouls in the recent meeting between the sides at Craven Cottage whilst his midfield partner in Sander Berge was shown a yellow card.

This should be quite a conservative encounter, both league meetings between these sides ended in 2-0 wins, one apiece for both sides. There isn’t a clear edge for either side over the other here which should play out in a tense and low scoring tie to decide who progresses through to the semi finals of the FA Cup. Palace have seen under 3.5 goals in three of their last five games across all competitions whilst Fulham have come in under this line in each of their last five games which includes the previous round of the FA Cup in which they had to come through a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Palace’s 13 away games in the Premier League this season have produced 30 goals (2.30 per game) whilst Fulham’s 15 games at Craven Cottage this campaign have produced 43 goals (2.86 per game). Given how organised both of these sides have been this season, expect a low scoring affair with possibly one goal enough to decide this tie, especially when considering that both sides have beaten the other to nil already this term.

Only Arsenal (25) and Liverpool (31) have picked up more points than Crystal Palace (23) since Boxing Day in the Premier League. The Eagles have also only conceded seven goals across this run of games highlighting the impressive job Oliver Glasner has done with this side after a slow start to the campaign. This run of form includes beating Fulham at Craven Cottage in the Premier League just a few weeks ago with Palace running out 2-0 winners. The balance of the side is perfect with a settled back three supported by attacking wingbacks and protected by a midfield duo which are aggressive but also have the ability to pick out the dangerous attacking trio. Fulham have been solid this campaign but have faced inconsistency at times, they’ve won just two of their last five games across all competitions and getting over the line at Craven Cottage has been an issue all season. They’ve lost or drawn nine of their 15 games at home this campaign (60%) which will encourage a Crystal Palace side who have form on their side.

No player has scored more goals for Fulham this season than Raul Jimenez (10). The striker has found form again at Craven Cottage after a period of instability following a nasty injury and stands out as a player that can hurt Crystal Palace in this cup tie. Jimenez was in fine form over the international break, netting back to back braces against Canada and Panama to help fire Mexico to the CONCACAF Nations League trophy. This should give Jimenez some momentum to carry into this cup tie despite the differing context, strikers often play in spells which can translate across competitions. Jimenez also managed to score against Brighton in Fulham’s penultimate game before the international break and should get service here seeing as he’s averaging 1.36 shots on target per 90 across his 29 Premier League appearances this season. Jimenez has posted an xG of 10.4 which is in line with his current goal tally, suggesting that when a quality chance does fall his way, he often puts it away.

Crystal Palace drew 4+ saves from Bernd Leno in the Fulham net in both of their games against Fulham in the Premier League this season. Palace’s shape allowed them to create overloads in central areas of the pitch which caused problems for Fulham and allowed the Eagles to test the Fulham keeper on a few occasions. Crystal Palace have drawn 2+ saves from the opposition keeper in 26 of their 28 Premier League matches this season (92%) which is a record that reflects how much Glasner has improved this side in the final third, Palace were a little too conservative in the early stages of the season but have progressed well in the final third to the point where they can regularly test opposition keepers as their numbers suggest. Leno has been forced into making 82 saves across his 29 Premier League appearances this season (2.83 per game), Palace could even force an increase in this average when looking at their previous attacking performances against Fulham this season.

The middle of the park could be crucial in deciding the outcome of this game. Palace are very smart with how they dominate this area of the pitch with the two attacking players just in behind the striker supporting the double pivot to create a box in midfield. This causes issues for the opposition as most sides play with a three in the middle of the park meaning that Palace always have a man advantage as well as maintaining an outlet in wide areas with their wingbacks. This was evident in Palace’s 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage a few weeks ago in which Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge committed five fouls between them - half of the total number of fouls Fulham committed in the game which further highlights how important the midfield areas will be in deciding the outcome of this game whilst also being a hotspot for fouls and cards. Pereira is averaging 1.19 fouls committed per 90 across his 26 Premier League appearances this season which has resulted in seven yellow cards for the 29 year old who has been dropped slightly deeper this campaign to make room for the likes of Emile Smith Rowe who Marco Silva seems to prefer in the attacking areas of the pitch.

Munoz has been key for Crystal Palace this season, Oliver Glasner has described him as ‘the perfect Premier League player’ in a nod to his physicality and energy to bomb up and down the right hand side of the pitch. He’s registered seven goal contributions this season which showcases how effective he has been in the final third this campaign. Munoz is averaging 1.11 shots per 90 in the Premier League this season and seems to thrive in the cup having already scored twice in the FA Cup this campaign whilst averaging 1.68 shots per 90 across his three appearances in the competition. Munoz scored against Fulham in the recent league meeting between the sides and will get opportunities here as the out ball from a congested midfield battle. Crystal Palace like to create overloads in the middle of the pitch with the extra man they often have in midfield which leaves the flanks free for the wingbacks to bomb forward and create opportunities as well as get shots away.