Brighton-Crystal Palace is a Premier League Week 8 replay and will be played on Wednesday at 20:30: live TV, odds, predictions
The “saga” of the Premier League salvos continues and in the week reserved for the cups in England two teams that are not involved in the continental field take the field. Brighton and Crystal Palace, the so-called M23 derby – the name derives from the motorway that connects the London borough of Croydon (home of the Eagles) and the town on the English Channel – recover a match that should have been played last September. The last precedent, in fact, was just over a month ago.
In the capital it ended 1-1: Roberto De Zerbi’s team dominated the game but wasted a lot. And as soon as they took the lead through March, they immediately conceded the equaliser through Tomkins. Brighton therefore deserved the three points for what they showed on the pitch: the difference between the two teams in the standings – the Seagulls are twelve points ahead – was clear to see. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, continue to postpone their appointment with their first win of 2023. On Saturday they managed to limit the damage against Manchester City, who ‘only’ went through 1-0 at Selhurst Park thanks to a penalty kick by Haaland, but with the Citizens came their second consecutive defeat. The offensive problems of the Eagles, who have scored barely two goals in the last five days and now risk being sucked into the fight for relegation. Yes, Patrick Vieira’s men can’t stay quiet either.
Needless Bournemouth are only three points off the bottom of the table: from 12th place (occupied by the Eagles) down they are all involved. The situation is quite the opposite for Brighton, who, despite not shining in terms of consistency, remain in touch with the European zone. An eventual qualification for the European cups would be gold for the club led by the former Sassuolo coach, who in just a few weeks has made people forget about his predecessor Graham Potter, who last September ended up at Chelsea.
Zaha
The Prediction
Brighton haven’t beaten their rivals in four years, who in recent clashes have always snatched at least a draw. This looks like the right time to get the better of a Crystal Palace side that is in deep crisis, not least in terms of goalscoring.
Brighton v Crystal Palace matchday squad
- BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan; Caicedo, Gross; March, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Ferguson.
- CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Lokonga, Doucouré, Schlupp; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
