English Premier
2026-10-18 - Brighton vs Crystal Palace
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 18th October 2026 - Kick Off 2pm
This game is live on TV
Brighton
Some reports have linked Fabian Hurzeler with any vacancy that may come up at Old Trafford, but the Brighton manager looks pretty focused on his own club right now. The start to this season could not have gone much better for the team and Brighton are about to embark on a difficult run where they can really state their case as a potential dark horse for a Premier League title run.
That is probably a little far fetched and this is a season in which a Leicester City like story is unlikely, but Brighton are 3rd in the Premier League table and they have earned 13 points from the opening six fixtures in the top flight. The thumping win over Champions Arsenal will have given Brighton a huge amount of belief and they will go into this weekend looking to improve the 2-1-0 record at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton played their first Conference League Group Stage match on Thursday and were comfortable winners at home, which means they have won 5 in a row in all competitions. That victory over Kauno Zalgiris means Brighton have won 7 of the last 9 in front of their own fans in all competitions.
Pascal Struijk was sent off in the win over Sunderland, but it was a decision reassessed by the Football Association and he will not have to serve a suspension. However, he is having his minutes managed and may not be involved, while both Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh are closing in on returns from injury.
Crystal Palace
It is no surprise that the Crystal Palace squad are still trying to get to grips with new manager Pierre Sage's tactics and that has led to some inconsistent results and performances. They were beaten at Lyon on Match Day 2 of the Europa League on Thursday, but Crystal Palace have experienced playing in UEFA competition and the Premier League and that should help them in the months ahead.
Three points were earned last Sunday thanks to a win over former manager Oliver Glasner and his Nottingham Forest team and that has pushed The Eagles up into a somewhat familiar 12th place in the Premier League standings. They will make the relatively short journey to the South Coast with a 1-1-1 away record and Crystal Palace have scored 3 goals and conceded 4 in those games.
Crystal Palace were beaten 3-2 at Lyon on Thursday and they have lost half of the last 6 games in all competitions, although they have managed a couple of wins in that run. That defeat in France means Crystal Palace have won 1 of the last 7 away games in all competitions going back to last season and they have suffered 4 defeat in that time.
Axel Disasi is back from a domestic suspension and will travel. Dean Henderson and Jean-Philippe Mateta are closing on a return after injury and both are hoping to be involved, but Ben Chilwell is more doubtful.
Head to Head
Crystal Palace earned four points against Brighton last season and the majority were picked up after a 0-1 win at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton had won 2 in a row at home against Crystal Palace, but it is The Eagles who have won on each of the last 2 visits to this ground.
Prediction
The first M23 derby of the season is played on Sunday and both Brighton and Crystal Palace have been in European action on Thursday.
It has to be seen as an advantage that Brighton were playing at home in the weaker Conference League, while Crystal Palace are travelling back from Lyon in the Europa League.
Of course Brighton have also begun the Premier League season in much stronger fashion than Crystal Palace who are trying to get to grips with the Pierre Sage methods. That is most evident with the lack of balance that The Eagles have had in the Premier League matches played with the team struggling defensively, although offering a real threat at the other end of the pitch.
Now they have to travel to the Amex Stadium where Brighton have found a consistent formula and where they were last seen beating Arsenal in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace have won the last 2 visits to this Stadium, but containing Brighton is going to be very challenging on Sunday and the consistency in the methods under Fabian Hurzeler looks like giving The Seagulls an edge in this derby.
Both teams will be confident they can hurt the other, but Brighton may be able to create the superior chances and they have shown how tough they can be to peg back once they get into a lead. Heavy wins over Aston Villa and Arsenal underline the qualities in the home squad and Brighton's comfortable win on Thursday may allow them to have earned a bit more rest in the legs ahead of this game.
It could be a fun game for those choosing to watch this game rather than the other two Premier League games played at the same time and Brighton may show off the firepower to earn an important three points.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Brighton 2-1 Crystal Palace
