Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion
As Premier League clashes go, this may seem a fairly standard fixture to many observers.
Yet look more closely and you will see an unlikely grudge match which three years ago finally reached the modern-day top flight of English football.
Alan Mullery was in charge of Brighton and Terry Venables was at the helm at Palace when the feud between these clubs began.
Palace appointed Venables in June 1976, and Albion named Mullery the following month. The pair were already fierce rivals, a situation that dated back exactly a decade to their time as team-mates at Tottenham.
By the summer of 1977, the two clubs – although not the two men – had become irrevocable enemies and the rest is a modern-day history.
Talking Points
Now in 2020, the football landscape may be very different but the desire to win for both sides remains as strong as ever.
The Eagles are looking to secure consecutive league victories against the Seagulls for the first time since September 2011, yet Brighton have lost just one of their five top-flight away games to Palace.
Based on recent defences, I certainly do not expect this game to end goalless.
Having won their opening two Premier League games of the new season, Palace have since lost their last two by an aggregate score of 1-6.
Brighton have already shown they can give big boys a scare and deserved much better than their last-gasp defeat to Manchester United a few weeks ago.
Yet the fact remains that they have lost their last two Premier League matches and have shipped at least three goals in each of their six Premier League defeats since the competition restarted in June.
If you are hedging your bets on Premier League 2020 highlights this Sunday, then two players stand out as being likely matchwinners.
You won’t be surprised to hear one such player is Wilfried Zaha who has scored more goals against Brighton in all competitions than he has any other opponent (six).
Meanwhile, Brighton’s Neal Maupay has been directly involved in six goals in his last five Premier League games (four goals, two assists), including five in his last three.
This weekend he is bidding to become the first player to score in four consecutive league appearances for Brighton since Tomer Hemed in February 2017 (five).
Another emerging threat for the visitors will be exciting young wing-back Tariq Lamptey.
Both sides have a number of absentees, although Serbia midfielder Luka Milivojevic is pushing for a start for the hosts, while Iran midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh misses out for Brighton with a hamstring problem.
History
Last season, the M23 Derby at Selhurst Park finished 1-1 when Zaha’s equaliser cancelled out Maupay’s opener. Palace edged the return fixture when Jordan Ayew netted the only goal.
Overall, Palace have 37 wins, Brighton have tasted victory on 40 occasions and there have been a further 26 draws.
Most of their meetings have been in the lower leagues, beginning on Christmas Day 1920 when Palace emerged 2-0 winners in the then Division Three South.
Before 2017/18, you had to go back to the 2013 Championship play-off semi-finals for the last time these sides met.
After a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, Palace won 2-0 at the Amex with a Zaha double steering them through to the final at Wembley which they won to seal promotion.
They have been in the top flight ever since.
Betting Tip
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Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion | 1X2 Crystal Palace @ 2.63 |
| October 18, 21:00 (GMT+8) |
Palace have the edge with the SBOTOP Premier League 2020 betting odds. They can be backed 1X2 @ 2.63 and First Half 1X2 @ 3.25, while the Eagles are priced 1X2 @ 2.70 and First Half 1X2 @ 3.40. The draw will pay out @ 3.10.
My three-star tip is for Palace to pick up the home win over Brighton. With the Seagulls likely to dominate possession, Palace will be able to set up in their counterattacking style, which has brought them decent success against the big clubs.
Brighton’s defence continues to have some issues, so Zaha and co. should like their chances of catching the Seagulls on the break.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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