Prediction: Crystal Palace vs Brighton and Hove Albion

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 12/5

Bookmaker: Betfair

The upcoming match at Selhurst Park on Thursday evening marks another chapter in the highly anticipated M23 derby, featuring Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion vying for crucial Premier League points.

Roy Hodgson’s team showcased an impressive comeback in securing a 2-2 draw against Manchester City over the weekend. In contrast, the Seagulls experienced a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal, where they were thoroughly outplayed during the match.

Crystal Palace

Although Crystal Palace have a history of unsettling the Etihad crowd, their recent match against the champions started poorly, with Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis seemingly guiding their opponents towards a comfortable victory.

For the better part of the initial 75 minutes, Palace found themselves predominantly defending within their own half. However, as Pep Guardiola’s team failed to extend their lead, the visitors regained some confidence following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal and a subsequent penalty awarded after Mateta was fouled by Phil Foden in added time.

Maintaining his typically composed demeanor, Michael Olise converted from the spot, triggering jubilation among the away fans at Etihad. Palace managed to dent Man City’s title ambitions and avoided a third consecutive defeat, a significant feat for them this season.

Despite discontent growing at Selhurst Park due to the team’s struggles, placing them 15th in the Premier League, the hosts for Thursday’s match maintain an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone. Their remarkable fightback in Manchester should inject them with renewed confidence.

However, the Eagles have only secured two points from their last six matches, including a string of four consecutive losses at Selhurst Park, reflecting their recent home struggles.

Team News

Against City, Palace underwent a first-half defensive adjustment when Joel Ward was substituted in the 34th minute due to a hamstring issue, with no immediate update provided by Hodgson after the game.

Ward’s injury adds to the extensive list of sidelined players, including Cheick Doucoure (Achilles), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh), Rob Holding (ankle), Sam Johnstone (calf), Odsonne Edouard (knee), and Jefferson Lerma (thigh). However, Jordan Ayew is set to return from a one-game suspension, while Eberechi Eze is likely to make a prompt return to the starting XI after a substitute appearance over the weekend.

Ayew is expected to replace Jeffrey Schlupp in the attacking line, although the impressive performances of 19-year-old Matheus Franca and 18-year-old David Ozoh, who substituted for Ward at the Etihad and earned commendation from Hodgson, could put them in contention for starting roles.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Palace haven’t suffered five successive Premier League defeats at Selhurst Park since February 2017. However, fans who witnessed Brighton’s lacklustre performance against Arsenal might feel optimistic ahead of Thursday’s match.

Brighton, still reeling from their Europa League clash against Marseille, conceded goals in the second half to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, resulting in a deserved loss against the league leaders. Despite Arsenal’s dominance, their inefficiency prevented a more decisive victory.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, admitting that the Gunners made his side “suffer” in an unfamiliar manner, causing them to drop to ninth in the table, below West Ham, though maintaining a comfortable four-point lead over 10th-placed Chelsea.

The defeat at the Emirates marked only the second loss in 12 games across all competitions for the Seagulls. However, both losses came consecutively in the Premier League against London clubs Chelsea and Arsenal, with the latter ending Brighton’s impressive 32-game scoring streak in the top flight.

Moreover, Brighton are yet to secure a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season. Despite this, they ended a seven-game winless streak in the M23 derby with a 1-0 victory over Palace at the Amex in March. Prior to that win, these historic rivals had played out three consecutive 1-1 draws.

Team News

Brighton also faced a blow in their defensive line as right-back Joel Veltman was forced off with a knee issue just 27 minutes into the match against Arsenal. Manager De Zerbi expressed concern about Veltman’s knee pain.

Currently, the Seagulls are dealing with several injury concerns in their squad. Julio Enciso and Solly March are sidelined due to similar problems, while Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, and Ansu Fati are in recovery from thigh issues. Additionally, there’s uncertainty surrounding Adam Webster’s return from a knock.

Given Veltman’s probable absence, academy graduate Jack Hinshelwood is likely to step in as an emergency right-back. However, on a brighter note, Danny Welbeck showed signs of fitness as he made a second-half appearance against his former club at the weekend, following a hamstring injury.

Conclusion

In five of their last eight encounters, Palace and Brighton settled for a 1-1 draw, a result that could well repeat itself on Thursday. The spirited comeback by the hosts against Manchester City might serve as a momentum shift in their favor.

While Brighton are unlikely to replicate their underwhelming performance against Arsenal, injuries and fatigue remain concerns for the Seagulls. These factors might hinder their performance in the capital once more, potentially leading to another setback for them.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 12/5

Bookmaker: Betfair