Crystal Palace-Brighton is a match on the 18th day of the Premier League and is played Thursday at 9 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
The snapshot of the last day of the Premier League was Roy Hodgson’s grin at the end of the game as his colleague Pep Guardiola put his hands on his head, dejectedly. His Crystal Palace managed to take away an unhoped-for point from the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City (2-2), but what made the headlines was how they accomplished the feat.
After the defending champions’ second goal early in the second half, in fact, the match already seemed to be on the books. Not even Mateta’s goal a quarter of an hour from the end hinted at a comeback by the Eagles, who instead reached the equalizer (2-2) late in the second half with a penalty kick converted by Olise. Lady Luck certainly did not turn her back on Palace, which for a full 75 minutes remained holed up in its own penalty area, thinking only of avoiding conceding more goals. And it is only thanks to the inaccuracy of City’s forwards if it returned from Manchester with a smile on its face for having avoided what would have been its third consecutive defeat. Who knows, maybe this result will act as a propulsive push toward a victory that continues to be missing since the beginning of November: the Londoners have been missing their appointment with the three points ever since.
Here’s the M23 Derby
In the standings, however, there are no major “landslides.” Crystal Palace remains within striking distance of third-last place: Luton has 8 points less than the Eagles.
In the eighteenth-day advance Palace returns to Selhurst Park, where at the end of the match with Liverpool two weeks ago it was soundly booed by its own fans. They will be visited by Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton, in a challenge always keenly felt by the two fans, probably more than a cross-town match. The Seagulls are fresh from the Emirates Stadium defeat to Arsenal (2-0), which interrupted a positive mini-series (two wins and a draw) between the league and Europa League. The feeling is that Brighton, only ninth in the standings, suffered not only from frequent injuries but also from the double weekly commitment to which it was not accustomed. The Italian coach for the challenge with Palace recovers Joao Pedro and Welbeck, while Hodgson rejoins Ayew after his disqualification.
The Prediction
Of clean sheets, this year, not a chance for a Brighton side that continues to concede too many goals, failing to keep its goal unbeaten for as many as 21 Premier League matches. We expect a reaction from De Zerbi’s team after the defeat to Arsenal but it is likely that Crystal Palace, rejuvenated by the Etihad Stadium feat, will also manage to score at least one goal.
Crystal Palace-Brighton
likely lineups.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Clyne, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Riedewald, Richards; Olise, Eze, Ayew; Mateta.
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Steele; Hinshelwood, Dunk, van Hecke, Igor; Gross, Baleba; Adingra, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
