Crystal Palace vs Brighton Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English Premier League
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THE FACTS
When is Crystal Palace vs Brighton on and what time does it start? Crystal Palace vs Brighton will take place on Thursday 21st December, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Crystal Palace vs Brighton? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Crystal Palace vs Brighton on in the UK? Television rights for the Premier League in the UK are shared between Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime so it is worth checking their schedules for Crystal Palace vs Brighton
Where can I stream Crystal Palace vs Brighton in the UK? If Crystal Palace vs Brighton is televised, then it can be streamed on either Sky Go, discovery+ or Amazon Prime Video depending on who is broadcasting the match
THE LOWDOWN
CRYSTAL PALACE
On Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that Roy Hodgson would be departing Crystal Palace at the end of the season. The Eagles, despite a very underwhelming few months, are still expected to finish comfortably in the middle of the table with the gap between themselves and the bottom three already relatively healthy.
Palace did earn a surprise point at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, fighting back from two goals down in the final 15 minutes with Michael Olise scoring an equaliser from the penalty spot deep into stoppage-time.
BRIGHTON
Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton have got into a rhythm of playing football on a Thursday evening with their first ever European campaign this season. They won their UEFA Europa League group, defeating Marseille by a goal to nil in their final match, but backed that up with another fairly lacklustre post-Europe display at the Emirates Stadium.
The Seagulls were beaten by two goals to nil at the hands of Arsenal in a game whereby a 2-0 score-line very much flattered Brighton. They remain in the top-half of the Premier League table and just a couple of points behind Man Utd in seventh ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures but have managed just one win in their last four league games.
THE TEAM NEWS
CRYSTAL PALACE
In his pre-match press conference, Roy Hodgson described key attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze as being "on the cusp" of returning to the starting eleven for Palace and a decision will be made on that ahead of this week’s encounter with arch-rivals Brighton.
The hosts will be without their key defender Joel Ward, who limped off in the weekend’s 2-2 draw against Man City. Jordan Ayew has, though, returned from his suspension following a red card he received against Liverpool.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Richards, Riedewald; Olise, Eze, Schlupp; Mateta
UNAVAILABLE: Johnstone (Injured), Holding (Injured), Ward (Injured), Rak-Sakyi (Injured), Doucoure (Injured), Edouard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lerma (Injured)
BRIGHTON
The big and fresh injury concern for Brighton and Hove Albion this week is the absence of Netherlands international defender, Joel Veltman. Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Veltman would be missing for around two months.
The Italian also confirmed that former England striker Danny Welbeck is not yet fit to start but could make the bench at Selhurst Park. Key men such as Pervis Estupinan and Ansu Fati remain unavailable for this one due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Dunk, Milner; Gross, Gilmour; Adingra, Lallana, Mitoma; Ferguson
UNAVAILABLE: Webster (Injured), Veltman (Injured), Estupinan (Injured), Lamptey (Injured), Enciso (Injured), March (Injured), Fati (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Welbeck (Fitness)
THE PREDICTION
This rivalry has had a tendency to be level or low-scoring in recent times. Neither team has scored more than a goal a game in their meetings since February 2021 with the four matches since then finishing either 1-1 or 1-0. Brighton had scored in every single game in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League up until Sunday afternoon so European commitments may well be catching up with them and another typical, low-scoring encounter would appear likely for this one at Selhurst Park.
TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS
