The final match of the Premier League weekend comes from Selhurst Park on Monday night as Crystal Palace host their rivals Brighton in what is sure to be a fiery way to round off another set of fixtures in the top flight.
These two sides are faring much better than they were touted to be at the beginning of the season so both teams can just go at each other in the search for three points and the bragging rights with no fear of league positions.
Crystal Palace
After a rough trot of results against the better sides, Crystal Palace head into this match unbeaten in their last three encounters, without conceding a goal in any of them. That will please Roy Hodgson but there has to be concerns over the amount of goals they are scoring. Only the bottom side Watford have scored fewer than the 14 that Palace have notched this term, and you would think there is only so long they can remain in the top half without scoring.
Only six of those goals have come in their eight home matches although on the flip side of that they have only conceded seven and they have faced Manchester City, Liverpool and Leicester City at Selhurst Park already this term. There is a decent side in this Palace squad if they can find someone to convert the chances that they create. That might not come until January or beyond though it must be said.
Brighton and Hove Albion
The Seagulls head to their bitter rivals in decent form themselves after a win at Arsenal and a good draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers and so they will look to get the better of Palace and keep their momentum going as they look to climb away from any threat of danger. Brighton are playing nice football under Graham Potter and it would be good to see them continue to be successful as it is pleasing to watch.
Brighton are much more free scoring than their opponents here but their 24 goals against represents a side who are likely to concede more, although the risks they take at the back that is understandable. It will be interesting to see if they tighten up the more they get used to this new style of play. In order to stay up you need to carry a goal threat these days so it is to Brighton’s advantage that they have that.
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Team News
Crystal Palace will be without Mamadou Sakho, Jeffrey Schlupp and Patrick van Aanholt due to injury and suspension so they could be a little light in defensive areas, which might bring them out a little bit I suspect.
Brighton are monitoring the fitness of livewire Aaron Connelly but will definitely be without the injured Solly March. They are also going to be missing midfielder Dale Stephens who served a one match ban for accumulating too many yellow cards.
Betting
Only Leicester City, Liverpool and Manchester City have won at Selhurst Park this season so it will be interesting to see how Brighton fare because they are nowhere near that sort of level. In the other five matches here Crystal Palace have won three and drawn the other two so against the teams they are expected to beat they generally get a result. When you think Liverpool only won late on this isn’t an easy game for Brighton.
I’m going to take Crystal Palace here, albeit on the draw no bet market. He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves in this Brighton side but Dale Stephens could be a big miss here. He is the one who protects the defence and keeps everything ticking over and there isn’t really anyone else of that quality in their ranks. That could benefit Palace so there is enough to like about the home side without the draw in play.
Tips
PUSH – Back Crystal Palace to beat Brighton (DNB) for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfred
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