Brighton’s 18-goal start leaves Palace with a clear target
Brighton have scored 18 goals in their first six Premier League games, giving Crystal Palace a clear measure of the challenge ahead: Sage says his side must be…
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Brighton have scored 18 goals in their first six Premier League games, giving Crystal Palace a clear measure of the challenge ahead: Sage says his side must be in better shape for Sunday’s rivalry match.
Brighton’s total works out at three goals per game. They sit third on 13 points after four wins, a draw and a defeat, while Palace are 12th on seven points and have lost three of their opening six. The six-point gap makes the meeting significant for the table as well as for the rivalry.
Sage warned against treating the early standings as a lasting verdict. “It’s only six games. It’s difficult to analyse that and to say it'll be true forever,” he said. But he stressed that Brighton’s start cannot be ignored: “we just have to be aware that they are in good shape and we have to be in a better shape to realise in this game.”
That is the central task for Palace. Brighton’s scoring record is already a concrete threat, while Sage’s focus is on how his own team prepares to meet it. He did not frame the table as definitive, but the contrast in their starts gives Palace a reason to raise their level now.
Sage also described the fixture as special and said Palace must match that occasion. “Every game is a new history – and we have to write a good history on Sunday,” he said. The rivalry gives the match its own importance; the points gap and Brighton’s goals add a sharper footballing edge.
Dean Henderson’s availability remains unresolved. Palace had played Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday, and Sage said the squad would train after his press conference. The club would assess Henderson’s chance of returning, along with the other players’ availability, after that session and potentially another the following day. Sage said Palace hoped and expected players to return, but did not yet know who would be available.
Brighton host Palace on Sunday, 18 October, at 14:00 BST. For Palace, the immediate challenge is to meet Brighton’s scoring threat with the better shape Sage has called for; the result also offers a chance to address a six-point gap after six matches.
