Crystal Palace vs Brighton Prediction: Back Eagles to punish inconsistent rivals

Crystal Palace won both of last season's Premier League meetings with Brighton & Hove Albion, and they are aiming to extend their hold over the Seagulls on Sunday (14:00 GMT, Sky Sports+). The rivals meet at Selhurst Park, where the Eagles' 2-1 victory over Brighton in April featured red cards for visiting defender Jan Paul van Hecke as well as Palace's Eddie Nketiah and Marc Guehi.

Brighton thumped Leeds 3-0 at the Amex Stadium last weekend, but their away form is patchy, losing 4-2 at Manchester United in the league and 2-0 at Arsenal in the EFL Cup on their last two road trips. Below are my Crystal Palace vs Brighton predictions, featuring team news and match odds.

Team News

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton returned to action in Thursday's Uefa Conference League win over AZ Alkmaar, and long-term injury absentee Chadi Riad could be back in the squad on Sunday.

Striker Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) is sidelined along with Rio Cardines, Caleb Kporha and Cheick Doucoure.

Premier League Odds

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma (ankle) may be fit enough only for the bench but defender Joel Veltman is available. Solly March, Adam Webster, James Milner, Brajan Gruda and Jack Hinshelwood are injured.

Today's Football Fixtures

Crystal Palace vs Brighton Odds

Crystal Palace are 13/10 to beat 21/10 visitors Brighton and the draw is priced up at 5/2.

The Eagles have been leading at half-time in all four of this season's Premier League wins, and the Palace-Palace selection is 5/2 in the Half-Time/Full-Time market.

The 1-1 correct score, a winning bet in six of the last 12 meetings between these sides, can be backed at 6/1.

Crystal Palace to win @ 13/10

Crystal Palace go into Sunday's clash with rivals Brighton in good heart after winning their last three matches in three different competitions.

Palace's 3-0 EFL Cup success against a second-string Liverpool side was followed by classy home victories over Brentford in the Premier League and AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League.

Wharton's return to action strengthens the Eagles' midfield, and their forward line features the in-form Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Palace have lost only one of their last 16 matches at Selhurst Park – a 1-0 Conference League defeat to AEK Larnaca in which they had 15 shots to their visitors' four.

They should create chances against Brighton, who have struggled away from home this season. The Seagulls lost 2-0 at Everton, 2-1 at Bournemouth and 4-2 at Manchester United, and they needed an 86th-minute equaliser to pinch a point at bottom club Wolves.

Bet Builder - Over 2.5 goals, Ismaila Sarr to score & Mats Wieffer to be shown a card @ 13/2

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in seven of Brighton's last eight Premier League games, while Palace's recent home results in the league include a 2-1 win over Liverpool and a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth.

Eagles forward Sarr should be backed to contribute to the goal tally, having scored twice in Thursday's Conference League victory against AZ Alkmaar.

Sarr is in superb form, scoring 10 times in 17 appearances for Palace and Senegal this term, and he also struck twice in last season's 3-1 away win against Brighton.

Complete the Bet Builder by backing Seagulls right-back Mats Wieffer to receive a card. The Dutchman, booked three times in six league starts this term, has played in midfield for most of his career and faces a tough test against Yeremy Pino and Tyrick Mitchell down Palace's left flank.

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