The Eagles head to the south coast on a poor run of form and having lost back-to-back games against Leeds and Burnley, with huge question marks over the future of manager Roy Hodgson, who is out of contract in the summer.
Earlier this week, a banner was placed outside the club’s training ground which read: “Palace pandemic of apathy. Change this mentality. Restore the pride, ambition and vision”, while there was also an open letter posted on social media that criticised their “safety-first” approach and called for the re-evaluation of the club’s long-term approach and the initiation of “substantial changes”.
Hodgson could really do with a morale-boosting win against a Brighton side that are winless in three matches across all competitions since back-to-back triumphs over Tottenham and Liverpool that provided validation for Graham Potter’s efforts at the helm that have been regularly praised but not always backed up with results.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Brighton vs Crystal Palace is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off on Monday, February 22, 2021.
The match will be played behind closed doors at the Amex Stadium due to ongoing Government restrictions relating to Covid-19.
How to watch Brighton vs Crystal Palace
TV channel: The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports’ Premier League and Main Event channels, with coverage beginning at 7pm.
Live stream: Subscribers can also stream the match online via SkyGo.
Brighton vs Crystal Palace team news
Brighton remain without highly-rated right-back Tariq Lamptey, while Adam Webster is doubtful with ankle ligament damage.
Solly March and Florin Andone are also sidelined, but Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Davy Propper should be fit to at least make the bench.
Palace are beset by injuries, meanwhile, with attacking talisman Wilfried Zaha still nursing a thigh problem.
Jeffrey Schlupp, James McArthur, Nathan Ferguson, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, Wayne Hennessey and Connor Wickham are all out, though James McCarthy has returned to training.
Crystal Palace squad from: Guaita, Butland, Henderson, Van Aanholt, Mitchell, Dann, Cahill, Ward, Clyne, Kelly, Kouyate, Townsend, Riedewald, Eze, Ayew, Benteke, Batshuayi, Mateta
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Ward, Dann, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Townsend, Kouyate, Riedewald, Eze; Benteke, Mateta
Brighton vs Crystal Palace prediction – 1-1 draw
Palace need to stop the rot here to quell some of the growing unrest among fans.
However, their record minus Zaha is pitiful and without him they often look clueless in attack.
Brighton’s wins over Liverpool and Tottenham were undeniably impressive, despite both of those teams’ struggles, but the Seagulls still have just one home league victory to their name all season.
A tense, low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.
Brighton vs Crystal Palace head to head (h2h) and M23 derby rivalry results
Last meeting: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton (18/10/2020)
Brighton vs Crystal Palace betting odds and tips
Draw: Between 5/2 and 13/5
— to www.standard.co.uk
