Brighton vs Crystal Palace Prediction & Preview - Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion have scored 17 goals in their last six matches and Crystal Palace have conceded six in theirs, and which of those numbers bends first is the real question at the American Express Stadium in Brighton on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Kick-off in the Premier League is 14:00 BST. Our call is a narrow Brighton win, and the reason is where each side has been picking up its results rather than how many they have won.
What time is kick-off for Brighton vs Crystal Palace?
Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace kicks off at 14:00 BST on Sunday, 18 October 2026 at the American Express Stadium in Brighton, in the Premier League. The full fixture detail is on the Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace match page.
- Fixture: Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace
- Competition: Premier League
- Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Kick-off: 14:00 BST
- Venue: American Express Stadium, Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion form: four wins in six
Fabian Hurzeler's side arrive on the back of a 2-0 win away to Sunderland, played 8 days before this match. Across their last six they have won four, drawn one and lost one, for 13 points, with 17 scored and 7 conceded.
The travelling has been the striking part. Brighton won 5-0 away to Coventry City, 3-2 away to Manchester United in the EFL Cup and then 2-0 at Sunderland, and the one home result in that run that was not a win was a 1-1 draw with Leeds United. The 3-0 win over Arsenal, 29 days before this match, is the headline, but the 3-4 defeat away to Chelsea 49 days before is the warning: when this Brighton team is stretched, it concedes in bunches.
Crystal Palace after the Nottingham Forest win
Pierre Sage's Palace beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 at home 7 days before this match, which is their best league performance of the run - won three, drawn one, lost two from six, 10 points, 12 scored and 6 conceded.
Look closer and that record is built almost entirely at Selhurst Park. A 4-0 win over Lech Poznan in the UEFA Europa League and a 3-0 EFL Cup win over Middlesbrough came there, as did the 2-3 home defeat by Ipswich Town and a 0-2 loss to Bristol City in a club friendly. The only match away from home in those six was the 0-0 draw at Leeds United. Six conceded in six is a good defensive number; it just has not been asked a question like this one.
Brighton & Hove Albion team news
Brighton go into the weekend with a long absentee list. Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas, Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh and Femi Azeez were all out for the Sunderland game, with Yasin Ayari back after a virus picked up on international duty and Jack Hinshelwood due a late assessment, per Yahoo Sports. Hurzeler described Mitoma as edging closer to a return without giving a date, and said there were no fresh problems among his 13 internationals. Lewis Dunk had been expected back from a stiff neck, according to Fantasy Football Scout.
Crystal Palace team news
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Dean Henderson and Takehiro Tomiyasu all missed the Forest match, and Sage said of the trio: "But we expect all three of them to come back for Lyon, or Brighton," as reported by Hayters. Mateta had just completed his first session back - "it's a good step", in Sage's words. Anan Khalaili was passed fit for 90 minutes and Ismaila Sarr to start, per South London News.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace prediction
Our prediction is a 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the American Express Stadium. Brighton have won four of their last six and scored 17 goals doing it, and three of those wins came away from home, which says this is not a side that needs familiar surroundings to function. Palace have the tighter defence on paper at six conceded, but one away fixture in six matches is a thin basis for trusting it at the Amex. The 3-4 at Chelsea is why we are not calling a clean sheet.
Our prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Crystal Palace
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