Crystal Palace vs Brighton Predictions, Odds & Betting Tips 21/12/2023

Crystal Palace – Brighton & Hove Albion

Tip:

BTTS & Draw

10/3

Current Bonus:

Bet £10 & Get £50

Bet Now

Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Home Win 1

0%

23/10

Draw X

0%

12/5

Away Win 2

0%

23/20

Crystal Palace caused a stir at the weekend when they hit back from 2-0 down to register a 2-2 draw against defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium. A result like that – especially over the busy Christmas period – could kickstart their season as the Eagles look to move further away from the drop zone. Brighton, on the other, hand will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat at Arsenal as they aim to boost their chances of playing in Europe again next season.

Without being too disrespectful, I do not think many of us predicted that Crystal Palace would return from Manchester City with a point. When they went 2-0 down after 54 minutes, even the most loyal and optimistic Palace fan couldn’t have envisaged what would follow.

They battled for every ball and managed to score two goals in the final 14 minutes to grab a remarkable point. If they can perform as they did after going 2-0 down for the full 90 minutes, the Eagles will be nowhere near the relegation places at the end of the season.

The reception Roy Hodgson and his team received at the final whistle was very different to the one that greeted them when they were turned over at home against Bournemouth. Hodgson is capable of getting Palace into midtable, but he needs the players and fans to buy into his plan.

The Eagles still have some injury concerns with Sam Johnstone, Odsonne Edouard, Rob Holding and Cheick Doucoure all still on the treatment table. They have no suspension concerns as they attempt to win at Selhurst Park for the first time in the league since September.

Brighton drew their first Premier League blank at the weekend in terms of scoring goals. Their 2-0 defeat at Arsenal was the first time this season that Roberto De Zerbi’s side has failed to find the back of the net. Indeed, it was the first time they failed to score since February.

It must be a strange feeling for the Brighton fans to not not witness a goal, but it will be intriguing to see how they respond it in this ‘derby’ match.

I have written it like ‘derby’ because it is one of the strangest ones in the football league. As the crow flies, it is 46 miles from The American Express Stadium to Selhurst Park – but the fans hate each other.

I am not sure if anyone knows the real reason, but folklore tells us that it goes back to the days when Alan Mullery was in charge of Brighton and Terry Venables was Palace manager. The fact of the matter is these two teams do not like each other and that makes it a must-watch encounter.

The Seagulls have won two of their last five Premier League matches and have not picked up maximum points in any of their last two games.

Solly March, Tariq Lamptey and Ansu Fati are still missing for the visitors with injury concerns and this game is not for the feint-hearted, so everyone needs to be 100% fit.

Head to Head

Whether we like it or not, this game is a derby, and the intensity will be off the scale.

Palace have won eight matches and Brighton have won nine over the years. Palace have not won on home soil since they recorded a 2-1 win on the road in 2021. Their last victory at Selhurst Park was back in 2018 thanks to a goal brace from Wilfred Saha.

Palace and Brighton have won one each of their last five meetings, with three ending in a draw – all by the same 1-1 scoreline.

Tip:

BTTS & Draw

Best Odd

10/3

Brand

Max. Bonus

Bet Now

Ten of the 27 recorded matches between these two teams have ended in a draw, and despite it not being a local derby, there is a lot of needle in this game. And as we have seen with fierce derbies in the past, anything can happen. I expect this to be a tough battle with an electric atmosphere. Check out these stats and best betting odds ahead of Crystal Palace and Brighton on Thursday evening.

Our Betting Tip for Today- BTTS & Draw - 10/3 @ Bet365

Three of the last five matches between Palace and Brighton have ended in a 1-1 draw. Tensions will be high and I think both teams will struggle to create many chances, but I expect both to find the back of the net and walk away with a point each.