Brighton vs Crystal Palace: Hürzeler seeks first derby win with 18-goal attack

Brighton’s 18 goals in six Premier League games have taken them to third place, but Crystal Palace present a test their recent derby record has left unanswered. Palace have won three of the sides’ four meetings since July 2024, drawing the other, and Fabian Hürzeler is still waiting for his first victory in this fixture.

The league’s highest-scoring attack gives Brighton a concrete strength to bring into Sunday’s meeting at the Amex. They must do so without several forwards, however, with their confirmed starting XI led by Charalampos Kostoulas.

Evan Ferguson is out with an ankle injury, Kaoru Mitoma has a hamstring injury and Stefanos Tzimas is sidelined by a cruciate ligament tear. Yankuba Minteh and Zadok Yohanna are also out through injury, while Femi Azeez has an abdominal strain and Mats Wieffer a knee injury.

Brighton line up in a 4-2-3-1: Bart Verbruggen; Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Luka Vušković, Lewis Dunk, Olivier Boscagli; Pascal Groß, Chema Andrés; Diego Gómez, Yasin Ayari, Maxim De Cuyper; Kostoulas.

For Palace, Walter Benítez starts in goal while Dean Henderson is listed as questionable with a foot injury. Jørgen Strand Larsen leads the attack, with Jean-Philippe Mateta also questionable because of a hamstring injury.

Axel Disasi is suspended following a red card. Caleb Kporha is out with a back injury and Chadi Riad with a knee injury, while Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu are listed as questionable. Tomiyasu has a calf injury.

Palace’s confirmed 3-4-2-1 is Benítez; Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, Honest Ahanor; Anan Khalaili, Adam Wharton, Quinten Timber, Tyrick Mitchell; Daichi Kamada, Yéremy Pino; Strand Larsen.

The contrast in league position is clear after six games each. Brighton have 13 points from four wins, one draw and one defeat, with a goal difference of plus 13. Palace sit 13th on seven points, with two wins, one draw and three defeats, and a goal difference of minus three.

Brighton’s last three league results have brought ten goals without reply: a 5-0 win at Coventry City, a 3-0 home victory over Arsenal and a 2-0 success at Sunderland. That sequence followed a 1-1 draw with Leeds United and a 4-3 defeat at Chelsea.

Palace arrive after beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at home, having drawn 0-0 away to Leeds in their previous league game. They are three points clear of the relegation places, while Brighton occupy a Champions League qualification place and sit eight points behind leaders Manchester City, who have played a game more.

The visitors also have a recent Amex result to draw on. Their latest win at the ground was a 3-1 victory in December 2024, when Ismaïla Sarr scored twice. Sunday’s confirmed Palace attack instead has Kamada and Pino supporting Strand Larsen against a Brighton side that has kept clean sheets in each of its last three league matches.

Palace manager Sage called the fixture special and said his side needed to be special too. “Every game is a new history – and we have to write a good history on Sunday,” he said. Palace played Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday before turning to this derby.

Kickoff at the Amex is at 14:00 BST on Sunday 18 October, in Week 7 of the 2026/27 Premier League season. Brighton’s next task is to turn their scoring form into a first derby victory for Hürzeler; Palace have another opportunity to extend their unbeaten sequence in this meeting.

Questions

What is Brighton’s recent record against Crystal Palace?

In the four meetings since July 2024, Brighton have not won. Crystal Palace have won three, with the other match ending in a draw.

What is a clean sheet?

A clean sheet means a team finishes a match without conceding a goal. Brighton have kept clean sheets in their last three Premier League games.

Where do Brighton and Crystal Palace stand before kickoff?

Brighton are third with 13 points from six games, eight points behind Manchester City, who have played seven. Palace are 13th with seven points from six games, three points clear of the relegation places.

When and where is Brighton vs Crystal Palace?

The match takes place at the Amex on Sunday 18 October, with kickoff at 14:00 BST.