Crystal Palace vs Brighton: Premier League Preview, Team News & Key Stats
As the Premier League season unfolds, the upcoming clash between Crystal Palace and Brighton promises to be a thrilling encounter. Both teams have a storied rivalry, and recent performances add to the intrigue of this matchup.
Match History and Recent Performances
Last season, Crystal Palace defeated Brighton in both league encounters. Previously, they had managed to win only twice in their prior 12 meetings, with six draws and four losses. Brighton, currently facing a tough challenge, has not won in their last six league away games at Selhurst Park, recording five draws and one loss during this stretch.
In their last meeting at Selhurst Park, Brighton fell to a 2-1 defeat. Historically, they have not endured back-to-back losses at Crystal Palace since the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons. The two teams have a track record of scoring in their matches at this venue. All eight Premier League fixtures at Selhurst Park have seen both teams find the net.
Current Season Statistics
Crystal Palace has accumulated 16 points after 10 matches this season, with a record of four wins, four draws, and two losses. This represents a significant improvement over last season’s total at the same point, where they had only seven points. It is also their best start since the 1991-92 season when they had 17 points.
- Current Crystal Palace Stats: 16 points, 4W-4D-2L.
- Best start since 1991-92 (17 points).
On the other hand, Brighton has bounced back significantly after a long winless streak against London teams. With two consecutive wins in the capital, they aim for a third, which would be a rare achievement, as they have only previously achieved three consecutive wins in the league once, between April and August 2022.
Home Advantage for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace boasts the longest ongoing unbeaten home run in the Premier League, having gone 11 matches without defeat at Selhurst Park. This includes six wins and five draws. Their previous record for an extended unbeaten run at home in the top flight was 17 matches, achieved between February and December 1990.
- Current Unbeaten Run at Home: 11 matches (6W-5D).
- Longest Historical Run: 17 matches (February – December 1990).
Defensively, Brighton showed resilience in their latest match against Leeds, limiting them to an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.5, marking their best defensive performance in recent months. However, they have not maintained consecutive clean sheets since February.
Key Players to Watch
Jean-Philippe Mateta is a critical player for Crystal Palace, scoring four goals in his last two home games, totaling six for the season. Only Andrew Johnson has scored more for the club in the opening ten matches of a season, with seven goals in the 2004-05 campaign.
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck is another player to watch, having netted 16 goals in the Premier League over the last two seasons. He is currently outperformed only by Ollie Watkins, who has 17. Additionally, Yankuba Minteh, aged 21, leads all players of his age with 14 goal involvements (seven goals and seven assists) over the past two seasons.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta: 6 goals in 10 games.
- Danny Welbeck: 16 goals in two seasons.
- Yankuba Minteh: 14 goal involvements (7G, 7A).
This derby not only showcases the talents and statistics of both clubs but also highlights the fierce competition that defines the Premier League. As both teams prepare for the match, fans can expect a showdown packed with intensity and excitement.
