Brighton snapped their recent four-game winless run in the Premier League and added another thrilling chapter to their chaotic, up-and-down 2023-24 season on Saturday, hammering Crystal Palace 4-1 in the M23 derby.
[ MORE: Upcoming Premier League schedule | Live PL table ]
The Seagulls were beaten 4-0 by relegation battlers Luton Town on Tuesday, but showed no signs of a hangover despite the thoroughly dismal display.
Brighton were on the front foot straight away and wasted no time to open the scoring either. Roberto De Zerbi’s side won a corner inside 120 seconds, and they made Palace pay. Pascal Gross served up a tasty ball to the near post, where Lewis Dunk rose highest and glanced a header just inside the far post to send the south coast faithful into early raptures.
From there, it was more of the same as Brighton dominated possession (76 percent in the first half) and eventually turned their control of the game into a 2-0, and then very quickly 3-0, lead before halftime. Jack Hinshelwood headed home the next goal — his third in the PL this season — after Tariq Lamptey floated a cross to the back post in the 33rd minute.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
The Seagulls then proceeded to win the ball back immediately after the ensuing kickoff, dribble it straight up the field and score again. It was Gross who carried the ball into the penalty area and slipped it to Facundo Buonanotte near the penalty spot. The 19-year-old Argentine dug the ball out with a first-time, left-footed curler into the top corner and wheeled away to celebrate with the delirious home crowd.
Palace pulled a goal back in the 71st minute, as Jean-Philippe Mateta got on the end of Joachim Andersen’s cross and thumped his header past Bart Verbruggen. It was just the fourth shot of the game by Crystal Palace, but their third on target.
Joao Pedro restored the three-goal advantage and made it 4-1 in the 85th minute, though, as Brighton turned on the style and flair. Danny Welbeck received the ball atop the penalty area and rather than trapping it, he flicked a clever backheel into space for Pedro, who made the darting run from right to center and slotted home with ease for his eighth PL goal this season.
Michael Olise off injured for the second straight game
Michael Olise, alongside Eberechi Eze, was sensational in Palace’s 3-2 victory over Sheffield United on Tuesday, but the duo was forced off with matching hamstring injuries late in the second half. Eze was deemed unfit to play on Saturday, but Olise was named to the bench. With his side down 3-0 at halftime, Roy Hodgson summoned Olise for a creative spark, but the 22-year-old lasted less than 10 minutes an apparent (re-)re-aggravation of the injury. The Eagles were beyond woeful without their two star men on the field, which could very well become the new normal for a while, pending scan results.
What’s next?
Brighton will head to north London to take on Tottenham next Saturday (10 am ET), while Crystal Palace will try to right the shit next Monday (3 pm ET) when they host Chelsea at Selhurst Park.
Player ratings – Brighton vs Crystal Palace
Brighton vs Crystal Palace, final score: 4-1
Goalscorers: Lewis Dunk (3′), Jack Hinshelwood (33′), Facundo Buonanotte (34′), Jean-Philippe Mateta (71′), Joao Pedro (85′)
3rd minute – GOAL – Lewis Dunk heads home an early corner kick for 1-0
Dunk heads Brighton ahead of Crystal Palace
Brighton take the lead in just under three minutes as Lewis Dunk rises up and heads the Seagulls in front of Crystal Palace at the Amex.
33rd minute – GOAL – Jack Hinshelwood heads home for a deserved 2-0 lead
Hinshelwood puts Brighton 2-0 in front of Palace
Jack Hinshelwood lofts his header into the back of the net to double Brighton’s lead against Crystal Palace at the Amex.
34th minute – GOAL – Facundo Buonanotte finishes through traffic a minute later
Buonanotte drills Brighton 3-0 ahead of Palace
Facundo Buonanotte scores Brighton second goal in less than a minute to give the Seagulls a commanding 3-0 lead over Crystal Palace in the first half at the Amex.
71st minute – GOAL – Jean-Philippe Mateta gives Crystal Palace a faint lifeline
Mateta gets Palace on the board v. Brighton
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s powerful header finds the back of the Brighton goal to pull one back for Crystal Palace in the second half at the Amex.
84th minute – GOAL – Joao Pedro finishes a slick sequence to put Brighton 4-1 up
Pedro gives Brighton 4-1 lead v. Crystal Palace
Joao Pedro finishes off a wonderful give-and-go with Danny Welbeck, who sets up Pedro in front of goal to make it 4-1 for Brighton against Crystal Palace at the Amex.
How to watch Brighton vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET, Saturday (February 3)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBCSports.com
Brighton starting lineup
Verbruggen — Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor — Hinshelwood, Gross, Gilmour, Lamptey — Buonanotte, Pedro, Ferguson
Crystal Palace starting lineup
Henderson — Richards, Andersen, Guehi — Muñoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell — Schlupp, Ayew, Mateta
Brighton team news, injury update
OUT: Julio Enciso (knee), Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Joel Veltman (knee), Kaoru Mitoma (international duty) Simon Adingra (international duty)
Crystal Palace team news, injury update
OUT: Eberechi Eze (hamstring), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (achilles – out for season), Joel Ward (hamstring)
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25472279/247129_Dell_XPS_14_2024_JNelius_0003.jpg)
