Brighton eye the leading pack as Crystal Palace arrive on the south coast

Palace’s away problems meet Brighton’s ambitions

Crystal Palace head to Falmer on Sunday sitting 13th with seven points from six games, and their away record explains much of that slow start. They have won only one of their three league trips, and they have lost three of their six matches overall. Brighton, by contrast, sit third on 13 points with a goal difference of +13, and a win here would keep them firmly in the conversation with the teams setting the pace at the top.

Form that points in different directions

Brighton’s recent results have been built on goals. They have scored 14 times in their last five matches, averaging 2.8 per game, and they have conceded only five. At home they have yet to lose this season, winning twice and drawing once in three outings.

Palace have found the net nine times in their last five, but they have also conceded ten. Their defensive numbers away from home are the clearest concern: they have shipped 12 goals in six league games, including two away losses by a single goal margin in their last few trips.

Head-to-head

The recent history favours the visitors. Palace have won three of the last five meetings, including a 2-1 success at Selhurst Park in April 2025 and a 1-3 win at Falmer in December 2024. Brighton’s most recent meeting with Palace ended 0-1 in February 2026, and the most recent draw, a goalless game in November 2025, shows how tight these fixtures tend to be. Brighton’s last win in the series came in a 4-1 victory in February 2024.

Team news

Brighton will be missing a significant group of players. Fernando Azeez, Evan Ferguson, Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Stefanos Tzimas, Mats Wieffer and Zeidane Yohanna are all unavailable. Pascal Struijk is a doubt, listed as a rest selection.

Palace have their own issues. Adam Disasi is out after a red card and Cheick Riad is sidelined with a knee injury. Ben Chilwell, Daniel Henderson, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all doubts, meaning Oliver Glasner will have to make his selection carefully.

Our prediction

Brighton 2-0 Crystal Palace

Brighton’s depleted squad is a concern, but their home form and goal output should be enough to get the three points against a Palace side that has struggled to keep clean sheets away from home. Palace have the head-to-head momentum, yet their defensive record on the road makes a visitor’s win difficult to back with confidence.