Premier League | Gameweek 31

Apr 5, 2025 at 3pm UK

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace vs Brighton

Match preview

A hatred that dates back to the 1970s, this is a meeting that is often misunderstood by supporters of other clubs with more established rivalries, but fans on both sides would love nothing more than a win in this fixture.

Oliver Glasner's Palace will be desperate to get three points on the board after an underwhelming away performance against a Southampton side that began the week in single figures.

Matheus Franca's stoppage-time equaliser prevented Palace from becoming only the second team to lose to the Saints this season, but Glasner was pleased with the fight his side showed to salvage a point.

The result extended the Eagles' unbeaten away run in the Premier League to 10 games, with only champions Liverpool having picked up as many points in that time (22).

Palace have also been impressive at Selhurst Park of late, winning their last two games here against Aston Villa and Ipswich Town, with Glasner averaging 1.5 points per game at home since his arrival.

Extending that run will be hugely satisfying for their supporters, as they would complete a top-flight double over Brighton for the first time, a feat that has not been achieved in any division since 1932-33.

If the spoils are shared, however, a remarkable statistic could be set, as a 1-1 draw would make this the first game in the history of the English top flight to end with exactly the same result in six successive matches.

You have to go back to 2000 and the last meeting between Charlton Athletic and Coventry City at the Valley to find six successive top-flight games ending in a draw, so six successive games ending in the same way would be quite a statistic.

However, Brighton will be looking for more than just a point as they look to avenge their 3-1 defeat at home to Palace in December, as well as a very disappointing 3-0 loss at home to Villa on Wednesday.

Encouragingly, Fabian Hurzeler's men have lost just one of their last eight PL away games, albeit a 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest, and are on course for their best away record in a top-flight season.

With 23 points from their 15 away games this season, Brighton are averaging 1.53 points per game, which is exactly what they finished the 2021-22 campaign on, and they will certainly need to add to that after a tough week at the Amex.

Last weekend, Albion were knocked out of the FA Cup by Forest on penalties, narrowly missing out on a day trip to Wembley, before their European hopes took a knock this week.

That defeat to Villa saw Unai Emery's men leapfrog the Seagulls in the Premier League table and drop Brighton to eighth, which is no guarantee of European qualification with the FA Cup still wide open.

Recent Performance

Crystal Palace Premier League form:WLWWWD

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):WWWWWD

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:WWWWDL

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):WWWDLL

Team News

Palace were without Chris Richards on Wednesday night as the USA international picked up a calf injury, but Glasner expects the defender to be back for this game, most likely in place of Nathaniel Clyne.

Clyne was hooked early on at St Mary's, along with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell, but the pair are unlikely to lose their places in the XI given the consistency they have shown this season.

Elsewhere on the injury list, Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are out for the season, while Joel Ward is currently sidelined, but the hosts will have Will Hughes back from suspension this weekend.

Adam Webster and Georginio Rutter will both see their Brighton seasons come to an end after last week's setbacks, with the duo joining Igor on the long-term injury list.

Joel Veltman is close to returning from an ankle problem, but fellow full-backs Tariq Lamptey and Ferdi Kadioglu remain sidelined, as is versatile veteran James Milner, who is still recovering from a hamstring problem.

In midweek, Hurzeler handed Lewis Dunk a starting berth for the first time in two months, while Matt O'Riley made his first start since early February after recently making a full recovery of his own.

Possible starting lineup

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck