The fixture we have all been waiting for and the one that we all look up as soon as the fixture list for the new season is revealed. Quite why it has been moved to the Monday night is beyond all of us and only asking for trouble.
DATE
16th December 2019
KICK OFF
7.45pm
VENUE
Selhurst Park Stadium, Holmesdale Road, Selhurst, London SE25 6PU
LAST SEASON
A big call not made in the opening minutes saw the three points secured by a player that should have seen red. Glenn Murray gave the visitors the lead on 19 minutes but Luka Milivojevic equalised from the spot just after the break. Anthony Knockaert scored what proved to be the winner on 70 minutes.
OFFICIALS
REFEREE – Craig Pawson.
ASSISTANTS – Ian Hussin, Richard West, Peter Bankes (fourth official)
VAR – Martin Atkinson, Lee Betts (assistant)
INJURIES
PALACE – Joel Ward, Scott Dann and Jeffrey Schlupp are all absent while Max Meyer, Andrso Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt are doubts.
BRIGHTON – Solly March and Jose Izquierdo miss out, Aaron Connolly may face a late fitness test.
SUSPENSIONS
Mamadou Sakho, Dale Stephens
DISCIPLINE
Red cards – Mamadou Sakho (1), Aaron Mooy (1), Florin Andone (1)
Yello cards – Luka Milivojevic (7), Lewis Dunk (6), Dale Stephens (5), James McCarthy (3), Jordan Ayew (3), Wilfried Zaha (3), Martin Montoya (3)
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 09/03/2019 Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton
- 04/12/2018 Brighton 3-1 Crystal Palace
- 14/04/2018 Crystal Palace 3-2 Brighton
- 08/01/2018 Brighton 2-1 Crystal Palace
- 28/11/2017 Brighton 0-0 Crystal Palace
Last FIVE results for Palace;
- 07/12/2019 Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace
- 03/12/2019 Crystal Palace 1-0 Bournemouth
- 30/11/2019 Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
- 23/11/2019 Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
- 09/11/2019 Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
Last FIVE results for Brighton;
- 08/12/2019 Brighton 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
- 05/12/2019 Arsenal 1-2 Brighton
- 30/11/2019 Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
- 23/11/2019 Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
- 10/11/2019 Manchester United 3-1 Brighton
RECORD AGAINST BRIGHTON
- Played 101
- Won 36
- Drawn 25
- Lost 40
FORM PLAYERS
Top two rated players from each team so far this season according to Who Scored;
- Wilfried Zaha 7.11
- James McArthur 6.99
- Dan Burn 6.97
- Lewis Dunk 6.89
ONE TO WATCH
NEAL MAUPAY
Former clubs – US Valbonne, Nice, Saint-Etienne, Brest (loan), Brentford
A £20million summer signing from Brentford, the French striker has wasted no time acclimatising to life in the Premier League with six Premier League goals to date. He will be a real danger to Palace as he proved a natural goalscorer in his time at Brentford with a record of a goal every other game.
KEY CLASH
WILFRIED ZAHA v STEVEN ALZATE
There is no doubting that Wilf always comes alive in these games and it will be a compelling battle which will see him up against the inexperienced but promising Colombian full back Seven Alzate. The 21 year old hass made eight appearances so far this season with just the one booking to his name but this will be a big test.
PRE-GAME STATS
- Top passers – Dale Stephens (1,038), Lewis Dunk (1,010)
- Palace have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 league matches
- Top scorers – Neal Maupay (6), Jordan Ayew (4)
- Top tacklers – Dale Stephens (44), Martin Montoya (37), James McArthur (36)
- Brighton have only lost one of the last five meetings between the two in all competitions
- Top assists – Lewis Dunk (2), Pascal Gross (2), James McArthur (2)
PREDICTION
Palace simply have to get this one right after last season and the battling qualities that have already been shown so far this season suggest that there is enough to pay them back this time around, with interest. Having said that, Brighton look a different proposition under Graham Potter this season and taking all three points off them will not be easy. With the home support doing what it does best, that may go some way to seeing the Eagles to all three points.
Final score: Palace 2-1 Brighton
OPPOSITION VIEW
Ahead of the big game, TEB had a chat with Ady from Albion Roar to get his views on the season so far, the derby and much more.
BETTING ODDS
- Home – 6/4
- Draw – 11/5
- Away – 15/8
- Both teams to score – 20/23
