The Seagulls Against the Eagles: Brighton vs Crystal Palace Match Preview

Brighton vs Palace. The game everyone looks for when the fixture list is released. Dunk vs Zaha, Mullery vs Venables, Seagulls vs Eagles. On this crisp October weekend, the AMEX will host the 116th battle between these two rivals – shown live to the country in front of the Sky Sports cameras. As we return to Premier League football many are asking, can Brighton keep winning?

These sides haven’t faced each other for 251 days, when Palace won by a goal to nil in Falmer last season. Ismaïla Sarr’s second half strike was enough to secure three points for Palace, pushing themselves above Brighton at the time.

On the other hand, this game is a sensitive topic for Brighton fans, due to the toxicity after the game directed towards head coach Hurzeler. However, that moment signalled a turning point for the Albion – losing only seven of their next 21 competitive games.

That statistic looks even more impressive when you realise Brighton have only lost one in their last ten, coming in a fierce battle against Chelsea in August. Albion’s form has made headlines everywhere being celebrated for the goalscoring machine that they are. This is for good reason too, already scoring three or more goals in seven games this season. Though, if there’s any team to stop this trend, it’s probably Crystal Palace.

Albion have had mixed fortunes against Palace in recent years. The Albion didn’t lose this fixture under Roberto De Zerbi, most notably dismantling the Eagles 4-1 in 2024. However, since that win, the tides have drastically turned. Palace won the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League in the span of 12 months, whilst also being unbeaten against the Albion since Fabian Hurzeler took over as manager.

New Palace manager Pierre Sage will be very heavily motivated to prove himself to the Selhurst Park faithful. Coming off a defeat to former club Lyon in the Europa League, his team will be looking to return to winning ways as quickly as possible with a win against their rivals.

Sage tends to play a similar formation to former Palace manager Oliver Glasner. Usually opting for the 3-4-2-1 that gave them so much success under Glasner, they’ll be looking to be as compact as possible to try to stifle Brighton’s flowing and attacking football.

The Eagles currently sit 12th in the table, thanks to a mixed bag of results so far. They have have a slow start, losing 2-0 on the opening day away at Everton and being destroyed 4-1 at Selhurst by Manchester City.

Goals from Ben Chilwell and Tyrick Mitchell was enough to beat a struggling Fulham side to earn their first points of the season, before a routine victory in the Carabao Cup against Middlesborough.

A loss to Ipswich, a win against Lech Poznan and a draw against Leeds before the international break was enough to leave them comfortably mid-table. Rounding out Palace’s season so far was a comeback win over Nottingham Forest, just before the recent loss to Lyon.

Brighton will be in good spirits going into this game, following their midweek win over Lithuanian Kauno Zalgris. Two goals in either half and the return of Jack Hinshelwood should fill Seagulls fans with hope. However, Brighton’s injury list remains long.

Mats Wieffer, Evan Feguson, Femi Azeez, Kaoru Mitoma, Stefanos Tzimas and Zadok Yohanna are all expected to return by the time we play Getafe in November – whilst Yankuba Minteh will be out until early December.

Palace also have a lengthy list of unavailable players. Captain Dean Henderson, defenders Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu and striker Jean-Philippe Mateta are doubtful tomorrow, with Axel Disasi suspended and Chadi Riad out for the foreseeable.

This being said, Albion are expected to line up with a very familiar eleven. Bart Verbruggen should start behind a back four of Olivier Boscagli, Lewis Dunk, Luka Vuskovic and Ferdi Kadioglu. The incredible Pascal Gross is expected to have Chema Andres and Yasin Ayari in the midfield with him, further solidifying their magnificent partnership. Diego Gomez and Maxim De Cuyper should start on the flanks, with Babis Kostoulas in the middle of the attack.

Palace will be forced to start second-choice goalkeeper Walter Benitez, behind a back three of Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards and Jefferson Lerma. Wing back Anan Khalaili was signed from USG this summer and should partner top scorer Tyrick Mitchell on the flanks. England international Adam Wharton and Netherlands international Quinten Timber should start in the midfield, behind a front three of Daichi Kamada, Yeremy Pino and Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Like any Brighton game, one thing that is guaranteed is goals. 2:00, in front of the cameras – it’s a game you won’t want to miss.