Crystal Palace

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Set against the backdrop of last season's superb FA Cup victory, the past two months have been largely pure gloom for Crystal Palace.

The Eagles had been without a win since beating Shelbourne in the Conference League on 11 December – when they were still in the Premier League's top four.

But Sunday's battling victory over their fierce rivals will go some way to lifting pressure that had been building around Oliver Glasner, who is planning to leave at the end of the season.

Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who looked set to follow Marc Guehi out of Selhurst Park in the transfer window, was unavailable for this game because of the knee injury that caused his AC Milan move to break down last Monday.

His absence meant Jorgen Strand Larsen was handed his full debut on the south coast. The former Wolves striker had little joy in the first half, although he went close to inadvertently putting Palace ahead when he got in the way of Carlos Baleba's attempted clearance deep inside the Brighton penalty area.

Strand Larsen also had a powerful shot saved by Bart Verbruggen as Palace looked to double their advantage late in the second half.

It was another Palace debutant who managed to unlock the Seagulls as Evann Guessand – a loan arrival from Aston Villa – held off Olivier Boscagli's challenge before sending Sarr racing clear for the game's only goal.

The narrow victory lifts the Eagles above their rivals and on to 32 points – nine clear of the relegation zone.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Brighton starting XI: Verbruggen, De Cuyper, Boscagli, Dunk, Kadioglu, Gross, Baleba, Howell, Mitoma, Kostoulas, Rutter

Subs: Gomez, Hinshelwood, Milner, Minteh, O'Riley, Steele, Welbeck, Veltman, Julio

Crystal Palace starting XI: Henderson, Lerma, Lacroix, Richards, Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes, Munoz, Pino, Sarr, Strand Larsen

Subs: Benitez, Canvot, Clyne, Johnson, Kamada, Riad, Sosa, Uche, Guessand

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Crystal Palace (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Liverpool v Man City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times GMT

Follow Brighton v Crystal Palace here

And go here for Liverpool v Man City

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: Palace have brought in Jorgen Strand Larsen and kept Jean-Philippe Mateta, so Eagles boss Oliver Glasner has got some options up front.

I normally predict a draw in this game, and it ended up 0-0 at Selhurst Park in November. This time, though, I fancy Brighton.

The Seagulls didn't quite get over the line against Everton, but them conceding late on actually won me some points. I am going for them to keep a clean sheet here though.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Apollo's prediction: 0-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

For both Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, 2026 has been a year to forget so far. Each will be hoping a win over their bitter rivals can salvage something from their campaign when they meet at the Amex Stadium on Sunday (14:00 GMT) in the Premier League.

Brighton are on a run of just one win in 11 Premier League games. Their misery was extended last weekend when they were pegged back at home by Everton thanks to a 97th-minute equaliser from Beto.

The Seagulls may take some comfort from the fact that their rivals are in even worse form. Palace have not picked up a win in their last 12 matches in all competitions and have endured a January of off-the-pitch chaos.

Seagulls' wings clipped by late goals

Brighton and Palace are 11 and nine points clear of the relegation zone respectively. A win for either would allow them to start looking towards a potential top-half finish.

But at times this season, both sides have had much loftier ambitions. Six weeks into the campaign, Palace were third - they were still fourth 10 games ago - while Brighton also broke into the top five at the end of Matchweek 13.

Since then, both have slid down the table. Only Wolves and Burnley have taken fewer points than the two clubs since the start of December.

Brighton have been nowhere near their best lately, but they have been undone by stoppage-time goals in their last two outings, falling to defeat at Fulham and dropping two points at home to Everton.

One side-plot to watch this weekend will be James Milner's pursuit of the Premier League appearances record. If he features, the 40-year-old will draw level with current leader Gareth Barry on 653 games.

That milestone will matter little to Brighton supporters if they fail to vanquish their rivals on Sunday, though and Palace will rarely have arrived at this fixture in a worse state.

Palace look to push on after nightmare month

Not only has head coach Oliver Glasner confirmed he will be leaving at the end of the season, but Palace sold captain Marc Guehi and failed to cash in on wantaway forward Jean-Philippe Mateta on transfer deadline day.

On the positive side for supporters, Jorgen Strand Larsen did arrive and should provide fresh impetus at the point of attack. The targetman, who bagged an impressive 14 goals last season for Wolves, is looking for a spark having scored only once in the Premier League this campaign.

The match should also throw up an intriguing clash of styles. Brighton are one of the most aggressive pressing teams in the division - they lead the league for high turnovers - and look to dominate possession when they have it.

By contrast, Palace are statistically the most direct team in the Premier League with the ball. They advance the ball forward on average at 2.1 metres per second, with Brentford second most vertical at 1.95 metres.

The Eagles are also second-lowest for average passes per sequence (3.11) and for average sequence time (7.94 seconds).

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Glasner confirmed Daichi Kamada has trained all week and is available for the visit to Brighton, while Borna Sosa is also back and Adam Wharton will return from his one-match suspension.

• Justin Devenny is "close" with Sunday's game coming "maybe too early" but for the game against Burnley on Wednesday "he should be fine".

• Glasner added: "The only ones are Cheick Doucoure – there's still a long way to go for him – and Eddie Nketiah is not ready, but all others are back and available."

• Jean-Phillipe Mateta will not feature against Brighton or Burnley after his prospective move to AC Milan fell through on deadline day: "I've learned to accept situations. My wish of course, and everyone at the club, would have been that JP gets what he wants and we get Jorgen [Strand Larsen] and Dwight McNeil into the building and Marc Guehi's replacement into the building."

• More on Mateta after reports that a problem in his right knee was behind Milan's decision not to complete the deal: "To be honest it was not a big surprise to everyone that he could fail [the medical]. We knew that this can happen and he knew it. There are two ways we can do this - manage the knee like we have until after the World Cup, which is JP's dream to play in. The other one is he undergoes surgery. We don't know how long he would be out. We will decide next week."

• On a move for Everton's McNeil falling through on deadline day: "McNeil was the last one we thought we could finalise but in the last minutes the terms of the deal changed again and the deal failed. I expected him and planned for him in the next day's training."

• Asked about what new signing Strand Larsen will bring, Glasner said: "He has a similar profile to JP. We wanted a tall and physical number number nine and Jorgen has a great mentality and a great character. We trust in him. We're always looking at the profiles and the character of the player, and Jorgen shows both – that's why we had a huge effort to get him into the building. He's shown it this week in training."

• On the new January additions: "It feels like a new team, with three new players coming in, and now it's really to start. We have Evann Guessand in, first week of training with us, Brennan [Johnson] arrived a few weeks ago – now, for us, it's pressing the reset button."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full live commentary of Brighton v Crystal Palace on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 14:00 GMT on Sunday

Ellie Killick
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Does Jean-Phillippe Mateta deserve to play for Crystal Palace again?

Not long ago, Mateta felt indispensable. Last year was a strong one for the French striker, who was scoring freely and at the back end was among the Premier League's leading goalscorers at the heart of a Crystal Palace side full of confidence and momentum.

Two months on, the feeling has dramatically shifted.

Palace's form has dipped, Mateta has scored just one in 10 games and his future at Selhurst Park is uncertain.

Form ebbs and flows, especially for a striker, but it is what is happening off the pitch that has left a sour taste. The transfer window is rarely a fun time to be a Palace fan, you are always worried who is going to leave and if we are actually going to sign anyone decent, but this time has been a particularly painful one.

The loss of our club captain, our manager announcing his exit and the public drama surrounding Mateta has made it an unstable few weeks.

Mateta's conduct has been disappointing to say the least. While his knee injury - the issue that reportedly caused his deal with AC Milan to fall through - may explain his recent struggles both mentally and physically, it does not excuse the manner in which the situation has unfolded.

Complicating matters further is the arrival of Jorgen Strand Larsen, who came at a hefty club-record price, one I am not entirely convinced is justifiable for a player who has scored just one goal this season.

Nevertheless, this leaves Mateta facing genuine competition rather than a guaranteed starting position - something only Eddie Nketiah has been on rare occasions this season.

Oliver Glasner has always spoken highly of the 4-4-2 system, so the idea of them playing together is not entirely impossible. Yet reconciliation depends as much on trust as tactics and if the striker can earn back the fans' support.

We must also remember a very similar thing happened back in 2019 when Wilfried Zaha wanted a move to Everton, which Palace blocked, but he too tried to force a move, yet he went on to become a club legend.

Whether Mateta can follow that path now remains the unanswered question.

Find more from Ellie Killick at Eagle Eye View, external

West Ham had agreed a £27m deal for Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah, 26, in the transfer window before an injury to the player ended the move. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Palace's Adam Wharton, 21, is on Manchester United's list of midfield targets. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

As is often the case with Crystal Palace, now that the window is closed, we wonder quite how we got here.

Two of Palace's directors own and operate NFL teams that, during drafts, run war rooms with dozens of names on their boards, looking to add to rosters of more than 50 players. By contrast, you do wonder if their Premier League team even jots the squad down in a notepad during transfer windows.

Factually, the club has spent a considerable amount of money during this window. Yet this appeared to be an approach devoid of strategy and if fans are angry after a turbulent month, you can't blame them.

The team scrambled for attacking options, almost adding Dwight McNeil in the dying moments of the window. The centre-back role vacated by Marc Guehi was seemingly ignored or given lower priority. The back-up wing-back spot, exposed by Daniel Munoz's injury in December, was not addressed.

Considering the catalyst for Oliver Glasner's outburst was the loss of his captain, that position is clearly a vital part of the team. The arrival of a central midfielder could have freed Jefferson Lerma to move to centre-back as a short-term fix, but again, this was not achieved.

Chadi Riad may be the cliched "new signing" on return from his long-term injury, but relying on both him and Jaydee Canvot with their combined five starts in the Premier League appears risky for a team often labelled as risk-averse. Should either of the remaining senior defenders get injured, the line-up will be notably weaker in that area than the one that entered the window.

It feels as though we will need more time and space to unpick the Jean-Philippe Mateta situation and all its complexity. Is he just poorly advised or simply naive in trying to force this winter move away from south London in a World Cup year? Perhaps both.

The team broke their transfer record twice and brought in three attackers. The mammoth fee for Jorgen Strand Larsen brings a lot of pressure with him and, as this team is desperate for goals, each player will have to deliver.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid could all be rivals for the £80m signing of Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, in the summer. (Mirror), external

Manchester United could make a move for long-term striker target Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, in the summer after the Frenchman's proposed deadline-day transfer from Crystal Palace to AC Milan fell through. (Mirror), external

Everton will be open to new offers for English winger Dwight McNeil, 26, after his deadline-day move to Crystal Palace collapsed. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, PA Media

Sources have indicated to BBC Sport that Crystal Palace were up front with AC Milan over Jean-Philippe Mateta's knee issues before the deal was called off.

They said Palace sent the Italian club full medical reports towards the end of last week in preparation for the move being concluded.

But, according to sources in Italy, Milan's reservations were over Mateta's right knee. The 28-year-old's meniscus had ruptured in 2019 when playing for Mainz and he had surgery that kept him out for around six months.

In their two examinations of Mateta, the Serie A club came to the conclusion that the striker would likely require an operation to cure the problem, described as an "inflammation" of the knee.

It is Milan's view that the issue cannot resolved by therapy and load management.

The prospect of surgery does appear the common sense approach here.

It will allow the player to continue his career free of the pain he has struggled with in recent weeks. Likewise, it would help ease any concerns his future suitors may have over his fitness before any move away from Selhurst Park.

It would also suit Palace to a point as it would likely eradicate the possibility of his current knee problems arising as an obstacle towards any future sale.

Mateta's current deal expires in 2027 when Palace would lose him for free, so the prospect of selling the player this summer will certainly be considered.

But with the chance of playing in his first World Cup looming large, any surgery for Mateta may have implications towards his selection for the tournament.

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Jorgen Strand Larsen's Premier League career so far is a tale of two halves. Crystal Palace fans will be hoping a club-record fee of £48m has bought them the right one.

In his debut season at Wolves, on loan from Celta Vigo, Strand Larsen scored 14 league goals - a tally second only to Matheus Cunha as Vitor Pereira steered the Molineux outfit to safety.

That success triggered a £23m permanent transfer last summer, but the Norway striker - who then signed an improved contract just five weeks into this season - has struggled to rekindle his form with Wolves rooted to the bottom of the table since early September.

The move to Selhurst Park will not immediately excuse Strand Larsen from the relegation scrap, with Palace winless in nine league games and nine points above the drop zone in 15th.

But he could be instated as Oliver Glasner's main man in attack from the off, with uncertainty over wantaway striker Jean-Philippe Mateta's role for the rest of the season and Eddie Nketiah out with a thigh injury.

Strand Larsen's shot conversion rate since the start of last season ranks among the league's top 10, which will be welcome news for Palace fans frustrated by Mateta's profligacy in front of goal.

Glasner's side face arch-rivals Brighton on Sunday. A debut goal against them would immediately endear Strand Larsen, who turns 26 on Friday, to the Palace faithful.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Rarely has a club record signing been met with such scepticism.

Crystal Palace have spent £48m on Jorgen Strand Larsen yet the jury is out. The Norway international has scored just once in the Premier League season after all.

Of course, Palace are banking on last season's Strand Larsen arriving, his 14 goals last season pushed Champions League Newcastle into trying to sign him last summer.

But there are supporters who still need to be convinced. Palace are in malaise.

Michael Olise is gone. Eze is gone. Guehi is gone. Glasner, their manager, is leaving at the end of the season – if not before. The team is disassembling at a rate fans are apprehensive about.

Last season's euphoric FA Cup triumph seems a distant memory; the club's spiral towards the relegation zone is in stark contrast to the jubilation of nine months ago.

Whether Strand Larsen is the man to inject some positivity back into Selhurst Park remains to be seen.

The addition of Brennan Johnson will provide further options for an attack that has misfired in recent weeks, but the late saga around Dwight McNeil will have done little to ease concern.

Uncertainty reigns at Palace - can the new signings provide some direction?

• Read more from Sami on Palace

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Jorgen Strand Larsen, who signed for Crystal Palace on deadline day in a club-record deal worth up to £48m, and what it means for Jean Philippe-Mateta, who remains at the club after his expected move away fell through on deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: I hope we start with Strand Larsen on Sunday as Mateta has missed too many chances over the past two months, and he may have lost the crowd. We have to look at the positives as we saw last season he could score goals, but a replacement for super Marc Guehi should have been fundamental. Why is this money available now instead of the summer when Ousmane Diomande from Sporting was available for £40m and was an ideal replacement?

Sean: So now we have Mateta and Strand Larsen? I seem to remember Oliver Glasner once saying that his favourite formation is 4-4-2, so maybe it's time to try it out?

Jerry: Poor signing for that amount of money.

Al: A new striker was needed as Mateta is firing blanks and Eddie Nketiah is constantly injured. With Mateta remaining, the arrival of Strand Larsen means competition. We messed up in the window by not acquiring a centre-back and midfielder, which questions our sporting director's ability.

Bill: I just hope our fans shut up about the board not backing the manager. They've smashed the transfer record twice in one window. It remains to be seen whether the buys prove to be prudent, though.

Shaz: Mateta can still be reintegrated into the team but he needs to get his head together and find his form again. A lot of people will think the fee for Strand Larsen is high but I don't think it's that bad for a Premier League striker in January. I know a lot of people have said about only one league goal this season but he has been in what has been a very poor Wolves side. He scored 14 non-penalty goals last season which is pretty good going. Give him a little bit of time and he will show us he is worth the £48m.

Mike: Steve Parish has left everything until the last minute yet again. We have probably overpaid for the two players coming in and we failed to strengthen in defence, which was also badly needed. I'm afraid we are in the fight at the bottom of the table and may well go down.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace are the biggest expected goals (xG) underperformers in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Based on the number and quality of chances they have had, a team historically would have scored 13 more goals than Palace have in their 24 Premier League games (25 goals vs an xG of 38.0).

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been the chief culprit for Palace's scoring struggles, scoring four goals fewer than expected.

Mateta is the biggest xG underperformer in the Premier League this season - and only three players have been more wasteful in Europe's top five leagues.

While only six players have scored more than his eight goals in the Premier League this season, only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago have a higher xG than Mateta (12.0).

Owning both Jorgen Strand Larsen and Jean-Philippe Mateta will bolster Crystal Palace's chance of avoiding relegation, says former Premier League striker Chris Sutton.

The Eagles signed Strand Larsen for £48m on Monday, while Mateta's move to AC Milan collapsed after his medical.

"With what has gone on at Palace - selling Marc Guehi, Oliver Glasner making it clear he won't be there next season - I thought they could have got sucked into a relegation battle," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"So, actually having the two of them isn't a bad thing.

"I just wonder if the Palace fans will take to Mateta coming back. They know he wanted away.

"Strand Larsen had a really good season for Wolves last season, but he hasn't torn up any trees this time round.

"It's a bit of a mess at Palace at this moment in time, but watching them against Nottingham Forest, they were crying out for a Mateta-type.

"This season, it's not a bad thing if both stay, it just depends on how Mateta's attitude is if he comes back into the fold and whether he throws his toys out of the pram.

"Financially it may not work for them, but I think they have a better chance of staying up with both of them."

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