According to the Sussex Express report, former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer has praised Brighton’s flying start to the 2024‑25 Premier League campaign. The article notes that Fabian Hurzeler’s side sit third in the league table and are the division’s leading scorers, having recorded victories over Aston Villa, Arsenal, Coventry and Sunderland so far this season. Shearer said that Crystal Palace’s win against Nottingham Forest last week could have been very different, stating, “Crystal Palace got the win last week, but they could’ve been three or four down with the chances that Forest missed.” He added that Brighton’s result at Sunderland, including a red card that was later overturned, showed their resilience and concluded, “I think Brighton will have enough to beat Crystal Palace. They’re flying, Brighton, so I expect that to continue.”
BBC pundit Chris Sutton, who played alongside Shearer at Blackburn, echoed the sentiment. Writing on the BBC Sport website, Sutton remarked, “I am not quite sure how Crystal Palace beat Nottingham Forest last week, because Forest had some incredible chances.” He went on to say, “I don’t see the Eagles getting anything here, though, because Brighton are absolutely flying at the moment.” Sutton highlighted Brighton’s 1‑0 win over Sunderland, noting the team held on with ten men and scored a late second goal, and predicted a 2‑1 scoreline for the upcoming match. He also pointed out that both clubs have European fixtures on Thursday, which may affect team selection, but he believes the impact will be similar for both sides.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged that he has yet to record a victory against Crystal Palace since joining the club in 2024. He told the Sussex Express, “Nothing yet,” when asked what he likes about the fixture, adding that he hopes Sunday’s game will change that. Hurzeler described the encounter as a derby with extra emotion, noting his previous experience of similar rivalries in Germany and emphasizing the importance of the match for fans, the club and his players.
Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage, who took over last summer, said this is his first experience of the Brighton fixture. He explained that he has read many articles about the rivalry and understands its significance. Sage stressed the need for a smart approach, stating, “We have to be really smart in the way we build our way of playing and our game plan for this game, because we have to be not only in a rivalry game but in a smart game.”
The match is scheduled for Sunday at 2 pm at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.