Ismaila Sarr had two goals and an assist as Crystal Palace stunned rivals Brighton and Hove Albion with a 3-1 rout at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.
Brighton entered the game just four points off the Premier League’s top-4 and Crystal Palace only four points above the relegation places, but derby day indeed threw it all out the window.
Brighton had a lot of the ball but found itself behind when Trevoh Chalobah and Sarr struck six minutes apart in the first half, then saw Sarr make it 3-0 in then final 10 minutes.
A late mess in the box led to a Marc Guehi own goal, as Dean Henderson helped ruin his own clean sheet, but Palace won’t mind too much after winning decisively at their rivals’ home.
Brighton drop two spots with the loss, now in ninth behind Bournemouth and Fulham on goal differential, while Palace climb into 15th with 16 points. That’s still four points above the drop after Ipswich beat Wolves earlier in Week 16.
Sarr the star but Palace all come to play
Yes, Ismaila Sarr had himself a day in a rivalry. The Eagles got two goals and an assist — a funny one — from the ex-Watford attacker, as the 26-year-old Senegalese never stopped running after or with the ball. Sarr was involved in so many duels, working all over the pitch to win the ball back and then trying to find joy when it was at his feet. Drawing fouls, committing fouls, whatever — Sarr was stuck in to this one. That spirit was throughout the team Sunday, whether Dean Henderson between the sticks, Maxence Lacroix guarding the area in front of it, or Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell out wide. Eddie Nketiah could’ve had a goal off the bench in a strong cameo as Oliver Glasner did not hesitate to remove Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta to protect the lead. It was defense-first, but this was a call back to the late-season surge Palace of 2023-24. Unbeaten in five, Glasner will hope it’s the start of more wins.
Brighton vs Crystal Palace player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Brighton vs Crystal Palace player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Brighton vs Crystal Palace player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Palace have a pair of matches with Arsenal, Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium in a League Cup quarterfinal, then at Selhurst Park for a 12:30pm ET Saturday kickoff in the Premier League.
Brighton go to West Ham at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Brighton vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9 am ET, Sunday (December 15)
Venue: Amex Stadium — Brighton
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Brighton vs Crystal Palace final score: 1-3
Trevoh Chalobah 27', Ismaila Sarr 33' 82'; Marc Guehi o.g. 87'
Brighton vs Crystal Palace live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time
Brighton were lively but their mistakes cost them dearly, as opportunistic Palace will laugh all the way back to London.
Palace own goal — Brighton 1-3 Palace (87th minute)
Dean Henderson flubs a catch of a corner kick, and the desperation clearance careens off Marc Guehi and into the Palace goal.
Ismaila Sarr brace! Brighton 0-3 Palace (82nd minute)
Dean Henderson lofts a massive goal kick into the air, and Will Hughes wins the second ball with a header.
Nketiah flicks Sarr into the box, and he rolls it beyond the reach of Verbruggen.
It had been all Brighton!
Brighton change it up
The 71st minute sees Hurzeler in a more desperate mood.
Adingra, Ferguson, and Brajan Gruda enter for Minteh, Ayari, and Rutter.
Palace subs
This was needed, as Brighton have been all over Palace in their bid to come back from 2-nil.
Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah enter for Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
2-0, 60'.
Great block from Lacroix! Then Henderson denies Dunk
Brighton have been in control for much of the second half’s first 10 minutes.
Mitoma looked like he was set to pull back a goal for the hosts, but his low drive aimed for the corner was blocked with style by Lacroix.
The ensuing corner is headed on goal by Lewis Dunk, but Henderson does well to limit the damage to another corner.
Defended well. Still 2-0, 56', but Brighton keep coming forward.
Brighton sub
Hurzeler opts for Julio Enciso, taking off right back Lamptey.
Halftime — Brighton 0-2 Crystal Palace
Palace started well but for a solid 20 minutes it was all Brighton.
Then came the goals, and the Seagulls appear shell-shocked at the Amex Stadium.
Possession has swung above 50% for the visitors, who have taken seven of the game’s 12 attempts and lead xG 1.35-0.25.
Simon Adingra, Mats Wieffer, and Evan Ferguson are among the regular answers for Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler in situations like these.
And now it is 2-nil! Ismaila Sarr goal — Brighton 0-2 Palace (33rd minute)
Maxence Lacroix sprays a long aerial pass to the left wing, where Brighton right back Lamptey completely mistimes his jump.
Mitchell latches onto it and spins a lofted cross to the back post, where Sarr heads home.
This game has officially been turned on its head after early Brighton control.
So close to 2-nil!
Sarr rips a vicious cross that Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen parries back into trouble.
Tyrick Mitchell quickly touches to a lunging Daniel Munoz, who is denied by Verbruggen.
Trevoh Chalobah goal! Brighton 0-1 Palace (27th minute)
Will Hughes swings a corner to the near post, and it’s a seeing-eye ball that misses everyone and bounces in the six.
The ball spins off Ismaila Sarr and falls on a plate for Chalobah, who just has to lunge and get a piece on the ball.
A short VAR review finds nothing conclusive after hints of a Sarr handball, and the game is 1-0 to the visitors.
Cagey between rivals
Joao Pedro looks lively but it’s mostly been a cagey affair for the 22 men on the pitch.
Brighton have been sharper in possession, as Palace are a little jumpy.
0-0, 23'.
Dean Henderson already in action
A clever overhead pass from Joao Pedro sends Kaoru Mitoma into the box.
Trevoh Chalobah attempts to put off the Japanese, who gets off a strong low shot.
Dean Henderson gets his left peg on it, keeping it scoreless.
0-0, 3'.
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan, Baleba, Ayari, Rutter, Mitoma, Minteh, Pedro
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Munoz, Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Brighton vs Crystal Palace preview
Brighton are just four points off the Premier League’s top-4 and Crystal Palace are only four points above the relegation places, but Sunday is derby day at Amex Stadium so all of that is out the window.
The Seagulls have been unable to hold on to late leads in recent weeks, dropping 9 points from winning positions in their last 7 games — including a pair of 2-0 leads after the 85th minute — as their red-hot early-season form cools just a bit. The good news is that Brighton are one of just three sides unbeaten at home this season (Brentford and Arsenal), as well as unbeaten in six against Palace going back to 2021.
The Eagles will try to build on their 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend and make it five games unbeaten in the PL (currently 1W-3D-0L), as they begin to right some of their early-season wrongs (winless in their first 8 games, but just 1 defeat in their last 7). Goal scoring has been a real issue (14 in 15 games, 2nd-fewest) in the wake of Michael Olise going to Bayern Munich in the summer, but things are slowly turning around in attack (6 goals in their last 4 games).
Brighton team news, focus
OUT: Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Adam Webster (hamstring), Jack Hinshelwood (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) | QUESTIONABLE: Joel Veltman (muscular)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Adam Wharton (groin), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Matheus Franca (groin)
Brighton vs Crystal Palace prediction
Palace’s intensity and running gave Man City problems, but it won’t bother Brighton one bit. The Eagles struggle when they’re on their heels, and that’s where they’ll be for more of this one. Brighton 2-1 Crystal Palace.
