Crystal Palace vs Brighton
England – Premier League
Date: Monday, 16 December 2019
Kick-off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Selhurst Park (London).
While it is unusual for two teams located 37 miles apart and rarely challenged for the trophy to be considered rivals, this fixture is still standing as much as another for the two clubs.
Both have come a long way since hostilities actually began in the old Third Division about 45 years ago, with only three points now separate the two teams in the Premier League.
Palace came into the match in the form of a slightly better after taking seven points from the last nine available, take advantage of the relief in the fixture list after playing Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool for a five-game winless streak before that.
The most important improvement in the time that has been in defense, where the Eagles are now looking to maintain top four consecutive clean sheet for the first time since September 1970.
Indeed, only Sheffield United beyond the top two have conceded fewer goals than the Palace, with Roy Hodgson's side boast a better defensive record than the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
It is at the other end where a lot of the problems lie, with the only rock-bottom Watford, scoring less than Palace 14 goals from 16 games so far this term.
Speculation that Wilfried Zaha will once again become a topic of interest in the January transfer window could hardly come at a worse time, then, but running a positive outcome to the new year could be enough to convince their star man to stay until at least the end of the season.
List of supplies would make that look impossible with their next five games all come against teams currently below them in the table, and with seven points separating them from both the four and the bottom three, Palace confident to start looking for a table rather than down over the festive period.
By the time they start on Monday would be more than a year since they registered back-to-back Premier League win at home, though, and Brighton will hope to expand waiting who has impressed in their last two outings.
Formation Predicted
Crystal Palace Guaita; Kelly, Tomkins, Cahill, Riedewald; Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur; Townsend, Zaha, Ayew
Brighton Ryan; Montoya, Webster, Dunk, Burn; Bissouma, Propper, Mooy, Gross, Trossard; Maupay
Crystal Palace vs Brighton prediction
Crystal Palace are on the road the last match-day, and in spite of disability leave, they managed to fight well against Watford. Keeping in line with their good defensive performances so far this season, the visitors managed to keep their net clean for the entire ninety minutes.
The match ended 0-0, with both teams sharing the spoils.
Meanwhile, Brighton have the home advantage the previous week's game, and they were pitted against Wolves. In a four-goal affair, both teams chipped in with two goals each to share a point each.
home advantage will clearly add to the strength of this palace-day match. They were in an unbeaten run of three games, and they are the only three losses in front of the home crowd this campaign has come up against Leicester, Manchester City and Liverpool.
In addition, since August, the team did not lose against a team other than Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool and Tottenham - all in the battle to finish in the top tier. And throughout this season, Crystal Palace have only lost against Sheffield United on the road, in addition to the weight class.
On the other hand, Brighton are winless in four of their last five games and lost three also. They also have no permanent victories in ten of the fourteen previous match-ups. On the road, they have lost four of their last five trips, and without a win in six of their previous seven as well.
Importantly, in this place, Brighton have won only once in 14 years before, and all of these factors combine together to choose the Crystal Palace as a favorite on Monday. Chances are, they have a double chance at a good outcome.
Occurred on Monday, once again the defensive prowess of both teams will be at the forefront in determining the outcome of the game. Crystal Palace was placed second in terms of clean sheets this season in the OT. Only a monster defensive Leicester has secured more inside it, and cite stat - only one extra compared to the palace.
Brighton is right below with four clean sheets in number. Adding to this the fact that, the host of the day, Crystal Palace, has not scored more than one goal in six of their previous eight games overall, and 11 of their last 13 at home.
Taking into account these observations, count on PL fixture for having under 2.5 goals a game this week.
Finally, given the hand over Crystal Palace, hands on them, and the struggle of Brighton on the road, it is very likely that the home team will keep a clean sheet in the first 45 minutes.
Crystal Palace vs Brighton Betting Tips
Dual Opportunity: Crystal Palace or Draw @ 1.44 (4/9)
Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.70 Matches (7/10)
Crystal Palace to keep a clean sheet in the first half @ 1.60 (3/5).
