MARTIN KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Oliver Glasner wants a plan to shackle Fulham’s flying extensive boys

Fulham find themselves with an outside chance of an unlikely FA Cup and Champions League double. A blockbuster tie against Crystal Palace gives them the opportunity to reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 2002, and move one step closer to their first FA Cup final since Bobby Moore and Co starred in 1975.

Marco Silva’s side are only four points off the top four. History is in their grasp. Silva has created a team who reflect his personality: ambitious, aggressive and very competitive. He has been touted this week as a possible replacement for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, a side they beat comfortably in their last league game.

So much of Fulham’s threat comes from wide areas, especially down the left, as Silva looks to get full back Antonee Robinson on the ball as much as possible in the final third. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only defender to create more chances from open play in the Premier League this season.

Willian made his first start since returning to the club in January against Spurs and immediately rekindled that old understanding with Robinson down the left. He tucked inside and freed up the space for Robinson, who loves running into the channels.

Willian’s return has given Silva even more wide options and allowed him to switch Alex Iwobi to the right and still have the much-improved Adama Traore and Ryan Sessegnon as options off the bench, even while Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson are out injured.

Silva likes to make impactful substitutions late in games. He brought on Rodrigo Muniz and Sessegnon against Spurs and they both scored.

Marco Silva has masterminded Fulham’s impressive campaign which sees them in the FA Cup quarter-final and just four points of the top four

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only defender to to create more chances from open play in them Premier League than Antonee Robinson

Oliver Glasner has built a side who play with a solid structure in midfield with flair and freedom

Fulham are happy to build from the back and let teams press them. Spurs tried and they played through them easily. The cornerstone of their defence is centre-back pairing Calvin Bassey and Joachim Andersen. Bassey dominates out of possession in one-on-ones, while Andersen does the same in possession with his long, raking passes.

Both sides have beaten each other this season so, tactically, there is nothing to hide.

The key to success for Palace will be how they deal with Fulham’s flying wide men and still remain effective on the counter-attack. I expect Fulham to dominate possession and try to push Palace’s wing backs into a defensive five.

Glasner has swiftly implemented a 3-4-2-1 system, one that a more illustrious club in the North West are trying to play but have been unable to deploy anywhere near as effectively. He has built a side who play with a solid structure in midfield but with flair and freedom that often gets five attacking players into the final third.

Eberechi Eze is the most creative player. He sits in the pockets with Ismaila Sarr to form a box in midfield with holding players Adam Wharton and Jefferson Lerma behind them. Palace are well-rested after not playing since March 8 and it has given the prolific Jean-Philippe Mateta time to recover from his head injury sustained in the last round.

The Premier League is seen as the holy grail but if you want to be remembered, win a trophy. These are players at mid-table clubs who don’t usually get the chance to reach a final but there’s no Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Newcastle left. They might never get a better chance to win the FA Cup.