Palace v Brighton

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Christian Benteke

Team news

Strike duo Christian Benteke (groin) and Alexander Sorloth (hamstring) are set to make returns to the Palace squad after recovering from injury.

Jeffrey Schlupp (ankle), Connor Wickham (groin), Joel Ward (leg) and Julian Speroni (knee) are missing. Bakary Sako (ankle), Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon (both knee) are out.

Brighton midfielder Davy Propper will sit the game out through suspension after getting sent off against Huddersfield. Seagulls winger Anthony Knockaert is available after completing his three-match ban.

Palace (from): Hennessey, Cavalieri, Speroni, Wan-Bissaka, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Sakho, Kelly, Delaney, Jach, Riedewald, Van Aanholt, Souare, Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic, Loftus-Cheek, McArthur, Rakip, Lee, Zaha, Benteke, Sorloth.

Brighton (from): Ryan, Krul, Maenpaa, Bruno, Schelotto, Bong, Suttner, Duffy, Dunk, Goldson, Hunemeier, Rosenior, Stephens, Knockaert, Kayal, Skalak, Izquierdo, March, Gross, Locadia, Murray, Hemed, Baldock, Ulloa.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I expect [the players] really to show that belief. The table affects so much, the pressures from the outside weigh on players, but as a football coach there's only so much you can really do about that.

"We are where we are and these last five games could be very nervy occasions. We're going to be very anxious and there's no doubt that the anxiety will find its way from the crowd out on to the field and all I can hope for is that the players show their experience and stand up to it.

"There's nothing you can do or say other than make it clear that you've got confidence in them. Mental toughness and mental strength are great qualities. Some players seem to find it very easy to find mental strength, some find it hard.

"Both the games at Brighton (earlier this season) were played with passion. They were strongly contested, no question, but I didn't see anything in those games which reminded me of a derby I once saw in Turkey between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. I've not seen anything that reminded me of that, or even Inter (Milan) versus Juventus.

"The players are experienced enough to realise they have to win this game and have to win it playing football, not by intimidating our opponents. Our opponents are too good and experienced to be intimidated."

Chris Hughton

"It would be a nice one not to lose. It's very difficult at this stage to speak about six-pointers, because they are all very big games.

"Until we are in a position that we could see ourselves safe in this division, whenever that next game is becomes the biggest game.

"I'm very conscious of what this game means also to the club and to the supporters of both clubs, and of course that gives it an added emphasis on a result.

"There are a group of teams below us at this moment, and their challenge is to get as many points as they can.

"There is still a long way to go and we will certainly have to pull out, I think, some good results. There are groups of teams below us very capable of winning their games."

Brighton - league stats

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
08/01/2018	FA Cup	Brighton	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
28/11/2017	League	Brighton	0 - 0	Crystal Palace
13/05/2013	League	Brighton	0 - 2	Crystal Palace
10/05/2013	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Brighton
17/03/2013	League	Brighton	3 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Brighton 2-1 Palace

Monday January 08 2018

Brighton: Krul, Goldson, Schelotto, Hunemeier, Bong, Kayal, March, Stephens (Propper, 61), Izquierdo, Brown (Baldock, 6), Hemed (Murray, 81)

Subs not used: Skalak, Dunk, Maenpaa, Rosenior

Goals: Sako (69)

Bookings: Riedewald

Palace: Hennessey, Schlupp (Souare, 13), Delaney, Riedewald, Kelly, Townsend (Kaikai, 45), Fosu-Mensah, McArthur, van Aanholt, Cabaye, Sako

Subs not used: Wan-Bissaka, Speroni, Tomkins, Milivojevic, Lee

Goals: Stephens (25), Murray (87)

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