The second edition of the rivalry this season takes place this weekend which we all know can spring more than a few surprises and it rarely matters what form a team has going into the fixture.
It has been a very testing few weeks in and around SE25 but this weekend there needs to be a fresh start by ending the terrible run of form and putting everything that has gone on recently behind us.
That can only be done on the pitch but there is an opportunity with some fresh faces being brought in, even if more was expected during the January transfer window.
Losing Marc Guehi would affect any club, he is irreplicable as many will now start seeing with the high profile that his new club provides. A suitable replacement did not arrive, but with Jefferson Lerma more than capable of filling that role while it is hoped Chadi Riad will enjoy a run of games, that should get us through to the end of the season.
With the disappointment that we all felt with Jean-Philippe Mateta, it remains to be seen whether he will play again for the club, but he will have to at some point if his dream remains to play at the World Cup in the summer.
Oliver Glasner does have options though, with the early addition of Brennan Johnson as well as Evan Guessand and Jorgen Strand Larsen at the death, it does strengthen what was a very light squad that was supplemented by youth players.
The Eagles head into this fixture in awful form, winless in 9 Premier League matches, but have better showing in this fixture having won two of the last three. Brighton have won just 2 of their last 13 Premier League games against Palace.
Since the start of December, only Wolves and Burnley have won fewer points than both Palace and Brighton, with Palace having the joint-worst goal difference in that time, so this fixture will once again not be one for the purists.
It is expected that Mateta will not feature this weekend or midweek while more investigation takes place next week on the knee injury which thwarted his chances of joining AC Milan.
Diachi Kamada returns to the squad as is Borna Sosa, and Adam Wharton. Justin Devenny is close to returning but Eddie Nketiah continues to miss out. New signings Evan Guessand and Jorgen Strand Larsen joined the squad for training this week and will both play a part on the South Coast this weekend.
Match Preview
📅 Date: Sunday, 8 February 2026
⏰ Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
🏟 Venue: American Express Stadium, Brighton
🏆 Competition: Premier League
⚔️ Context & Recent Form
Brighton and Crystal Palace meet separated by only two points in the Premier League table — Brighton 13th on 31 points and Palace 15th on 29, making this derby especially pivotal as both try to break poor winter form.
Brighton
- Known for heavy possession, but have struggled converting control into wins, drawing 10 league matches, the most in the top half.
- Only one league win in their last five heading into the derby.
- Winless in 10 of their last 12 league fixtures.
- Still formidable at home, unbeaten in 14 of last 15 home matches in all competitions.
Crystal Palace
- Winless in four league matches, struggling for goals with only 25 scored in 24 games.
- Away form remains patchy with poor finishing and limited chance conversion.
- Winless in nine Premier League games (D3, L6).
🔥 Key Narrative: A Rivalry Charged by Instability
The M23 Derby is always emotional, but this one carries added weight:
- Brighton dropping points from winning positions in recent weeks.
- Palace suffering a crisis of confidence and failing to turn decent build‑up into goals.
Both teams see this as a momentum reset.
👥 Team News
Brighton Team News
- Diego Gomez returns and is available.
- Yasin Ayari ruled out with a shoulder injury.
- Mats Wieffer still out (toe), close to return.
Crystal Palace Team News
- Cheick Doucouré & Justin Devenny unavailable.
- Daichi Kamada to be assessed.
- Adam Wharton returns from suspension.
- Possible debut for club‑record signing Jørgen Strand Larsen (£48m).
📊 Head-to-Head & Derby Dynamics
- Seven of the last 13 meetings ended in draws.
- Brighton have won just 2 of their last 13 Premier League matches vs Palace (both at home).
- Palace have won 2 of last 3 against Brighton.
This derby historically produces tight, cagey matches.
🧐 Tactical Outlook
Brighton
- Expect 60%+ possession and wide overloads.
- Their high line leaves spaces Palace can exploit on the counter.
- Welbeck leads the line; Gross central to creativity.
Crystal Palace
- Dangerous in transitions, especially through Ismaïla Sarr, who scored last time out.
- Strand Larsen provides a new physical focal point.
- Palace routinely underperform xG, scoring 5 goals from 13.3 xG since December.
📌 Predicted Lineups
Brighton (4‑2‑3‑1)
Verbruggen
Kadioglu — Van Hecke — Dunk — De Cuyper
Gross — Baleba
Gomez — Ayari — Mitoma
Welbeck
Crystal Palace (3‑4‑2‑1)
Henderson
Richards — Riad — Lacroix
Munoz — Hughes — Wharton — Mitchell
Johnson — Sarr
Strand Larsen
🔮 Prediction
Expected Result: DRAW (1–1)
Multiple previews forecast a tight match:
- Ladbrokes predicts a 1–1 draw, highlighting both teams’ poor form.
- History supports another low-scoring stalemate.
- Brighton’s home resilience vs Palace’s counter‑threat likely cancels out.
Key Factors
- Brighton struggle to turn dominance into goals.
- Palace’s scoring inefficiency persists.
- Derby tension usually keeps this fixture balanced.
⭐ Players to Watch
- Kaoru Mitoma (BHA): Brighton’s primary dribbler and creator.
- Ismaïla Sarr (CRY): Palace’s biggest threat, scored in last match.
- Jørgen Strand Larsen (CRY): Big‑money signing likely to debut, adding aerial & hold‑up threat.
Officials
- Referee: Thomas Bramall
- Assistants: Lee Betts, Simon Long
- Fourth official: Sam Barrott
- VAR: James Bell
- Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton
