Crystal Palace v Brighton: Premier League – live!

Roy Hodgson talks! “I do know, having come back here, what this means to the supporters. But when I was growing up in the area, it wasn’t a fixture of any particular note. Of course in the 1970s when the rivalry kicked off I was working in Sweden, so I would lie if I said I knew exactly what this means to the supporters from a personal viewpoint. But of course I do realise what it means for the supporters because I work for the club and I have been well rehearsed into all the trials and tribulations of the Palace-Brighton game. We have taken our chances recently, there has been a relative consistency to our performances. There is no doubt that if we get to 36 points you are looking at a potential downhill run rather than an uphill run, because teams below us have more work to do. Today is an opportunity for that but it’s by no means a given.”

Brighton boss Chris Hughton explains the Andone-Murray decision. “It’s just the level of competition we have. Florin Andone in our last win changed the game, and got the goal. We need to be smart in the way we play, because there’s no doubt this is a very big game for the supporters, and Palace can get a tremendous atmosphere here. We need to make sure we don’t get caught up in that one. They’re a very good offensive team with good options. Our morale has been good, and the cup games have lifted us, so there’s been no doom and gloom. But to make sure this is the season that we’d like, we need more points. Last week was a big win for us. If we can be encouraged by last week’s performance, then of course we have a chance.”

Palace won 3-1 at Burnley in their last fixture, and make three changes to the starting XI named that day. Andros Townsend and James McArthur replace Cheikhou Kouyate and Max Meyer, both of whom drop to the bench. Meanwhile there’s no Wayne Hennessey today; his place between the sticks is taken by Vicente Guaita, while the veteran Julian Speroni backs up on the bench.

Brighton make just one change to the side that beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 last Saturday. Florin Andone replaces M23 expert Glenn Murray up front.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Dann, van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp, Townsend, Batshuayi, Zaha.
Subs: Speroni, Ward, Meyer, Kouyate, Ayew, Benteke, Kelly.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan, Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Bernardo, Bissouma, Stephens, Propper, Knockaert, Andone, Jahanbakhsh.
Subs: Bong, Kayal, Murray, Izquierdo, March, Button, Burn.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).

The M23. A high-speed vehicular highway in the United Kingdom opened in 1974 that runs north to south from the Surrey village of Hooley to Pease Pottage in West Sussex, with a spur at junction nine for Gatwick Airport. There are more lyrical and romantic names for a football derby, if we’re being honest with ourselves.

Still, what a rivalry! Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion have met on an irregular basis since their Southern League days in the early 20th century, though they only started truly locking horns in the 1970s, Malcolm Allison, Peter Taylor, Terry Venables, Alan Mullery, all that. There’s no love lost.

Recently, the fixtures have pretty much gone the way of the home team. Brighton have won two of the last three at the Amex, the other match being a goalless draw, while Palace have won two of the last three at Selhurst Park, the other match being a 1-1 draw. Brighton beat Palace 3-1 last December thanks to a three-goal first-half blitz, despite Shane Duffy getting himself sent off; Palace won 3-2 at Selhurst last April, all the goals coming in a wild first 34 minutes.

Hopefully we’ll get another goalfest this afternoon. Maybe it’ll even continue into the second half this time. Glenn Murray in particular seems to love this fixture, having scored six times, three for Brighton, three during his stint at Palace. Wilfried Zaha likes it too, having notched twice here last time round. Much entertainment is promised, then. It’s the M23 derby! Stay in lane! It’s on!

Kick off: 12.30pm BST.
Speed limit: 70mph.