Brighton host Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the latest instalment of the M23 derby, with both sides stuck in the wrong half of the Premier League table. Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton sit 13th on 31 points, two ahead of Oliver Glasner's Palace in 15th. Neither club has produced the form their fans expected by February, and this local rivalry carries extra weight as both look to arrest long spells without a victory.
Brighton's recent record makes for painful reading. Four of their last five matches have ended in draws or defeats, with the only win coming in the FA Cup at Manchester United. In the league, they have managed just one victory from their last 11 fixtures. The home draw against Everton on January 31 summed up their frustration — they led through a 73rd-minute goal only to concede a 97th-minute equaliser. A week earlier at Fulham, a late free-kick had turned a potential point into a 2-1 defeat. Hürzeler's side create chances at the Amex but keep finding ways to let leads slip.
Palace arrive in even worse shape. They have not won in 12 matches across all competitions, a run stretching back to a Conference League victory over Shelbourne on December 11. In the Premier League alone, their nine-match winless streak is the club's longest since early 2023. Off the pitch, January brought upheaval: captain Marc Guehi was sold to Manchester City, Glasner confirmed he will leave at the end of the season, and a deadline-day move for Dwight McNeil collapsed. A club-record signing of striker Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves offers hope, but Palace have scored just five league goals during their slump.
The derby's recent history strongly favours Palace. They are unbeaten in three consecutive meetings, including a 3-1 win at the Amex in December 2024 and a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park last April. In 24 total meetings, Palace lead with eight wins to Brighton's six, with ten draws. Both teams have scored in 67% of those fixtures, and the rivalry's pattern of tight, tense encounters rarely disappoints at either ground.
My prediction is Both Teams To Score at 1.67. Brighton have scored in 9 of their last 10 home league games, while Palace found the net in 4 of their last 5 away fixtures despite their winless run. Both teams scored in 67% of the 24 previous meetings between these sides. The xG projection (1.68–1.22) supports a 2-1 finish.