Fulham 2-3 Crystal Palace: Alvaro Arbeloa booed off after third defeat in row

Fulham enjoyed a better expected goals (xG) of 3.13 than Palace (1.97), and also ran Chelsea close on the opening weekend.

But that does not stop the table reading three matches played, three defeats, zero points.

It led to booing from some Fulham fans, as well as chants questioning the team’s performance.

Arbeloa will be no stranger to pressure. His playing career included more than 350 appearances for Real Madrid, Deportivo la Coruna, Liverpool and West Ham.

He also won 56 caps for Spain and was part of their side that won two European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012.

Arbeloa got the job following four months as Real’s caretaker manager, taking charge of the final 28 matches of last season following Xabi Alonso’s departure.

In that time he oversaw 18 wins, two draws and eight defeats.

As a former defender, the Spaniard will have wanted to avoid conceding three goals, especially in the manner they did.

“We were really unlucky in this goal [second Palace goal,” Arbeloa said.

If Fulham can keep creating chances in the way they did against Palace, the victories should come. But the prospect of being on zero – or very few – points at the international break is a real one.

Arbeloa faces meetings with two of his former clubs next. A trip to Liverpool comes before a home Carabao Cup third-round tie with the Hammers and a league meeting with Manchester United.

Only six Premier League teams have started a season with five straight defeats. Of them, only two went on to avoid relegation.