Brighton & Hove Albion continue their Premier League title push against Crystal Palace.
Victory would lift Brighton into second for at least a few hours and five points off the summit, whilst Palace can climb as high as eighth with a win.
Team News
Pascal Struijk will return for Brighton after he was rested in their 4-0 UEFA Conference League victory over Kauno Zalgiris.
Zadok Yohanna (unspecified), Yankuba Minteh (leg), Stefanos Tzimas, Mats Wieffer (both knee), Femi Azeez, Kaoru Mitoma (both hamstring) and Evan Ferguson (ankle) remain absent.
Palace will be without Axel Disasi as he serves the last of his three-match domestic suspension.
Ben Chilwell is a doubt after he missed their 3-2 loss at Lyon in the Europa League due to an unspecified injury.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), Jean-Philippe Mateta (hamstring) and Dean Henderson (ankle) could return if pass fitness checks.
Chadi Riad is still absent with a knee injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Palace at AMEX Stadium on Sunday 18 October at 2pm BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brighton have won just one of their last six meetings against Palace (W1, D2, L3).
- Palace have claimed seven points in their last five league visits to Brighton (W2, D1, L2).
- Ismaila Sarr has scored three goals in Palace’s last two trips to Brighton (W2).
- Olivier Boscagli has made more interceptions than any other Brighton player in the top flight this season (8).
- Yeremy Pino has created five of Palace’s 16 through-ball passes in the top flight this season.
Prediction
Having comfortably dispatched Kauno Zalgiris on Thursday night with a clinical display once they unlocked the minnows’ defence with patience and composure, Brighton really do look capable of mounting a strong dual domestic and European campaign if continue their current momentum.
Palace meanwhile pretty much lost their game at Lyon through poor first-half play on the flanks but they can be pleased with their second-half effort to score twice, so they now need to find a way to be more consistent across 90 minutes after slow starts in their last two matches.
I however do think that Brighton do have the confidence to get the job done in the first half if Palace don’t sharpen up quickly, but there should be goals at both ends of the pitch.
Prediction: Brighton 2-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Brighton 5-0 Palace