Brighton
Crystal PalaceHow did the teams perform?
Brighton
Crystal Palace
Match Stats
Lineup
Brighton
82' Replaced by C. Kostoulas
71' Replaced by H. Howell
85'
Holding
71' Replaced by C. Baleba
82' Replaced by G. Rutter
71' Replaced by M. De Cuyper
Crystal Palace
17' Tripping
80' Delay of game
61'
85' Holding
77' Replaced by W. Hughes
88' Replaced by I. Sarr
61'
56' Replaced by Y. Pino
Premier League Standings - Premier League
| Pos | Team | MP | +/- | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Arsenal | 25 | 49-17 | 32 | 56 |
| 2 |  Manchester City | 24 | 49-23 | 26 | 47 |
| 3 |  Aston Villa | 25 | 36-27 | 9 | 47 |
| 4 |  Manchester United | 25 | 46-36 | 10 | 44 |
| 5 |  Chelsea | 25 | 45-28 | 17 | 43 |
| 6 |  Liverpool | 24 | 39-33 | 6 | 39 |
| 7 |  Brentford | 25 | 39-34 | 5 | 39 |
| 8 |  Everton | 25 | 28-28 | 0 | 37 |
| 9 |  Sunderland | 25 | 27-29 | -2 | 36 |
| 10 |  Fulham | 25 | 35-37 | -2 | 34 |
| 11 |  Bournemouth | 25 | 41-44 | -3 | 34 |
| 12 |  Newcastle | 25 | 35-36 | -1 | 33 |
| 13 | Brighton | 24 | 34-32 | 2 | 31 |
| 14 |  Tottenham | 25 | 35-35 | 0 | 29 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 24 | 25-29 | -4 | 29 |
| 16 |  Leeds | 25 | 34-43 | -9 | 29 |
| 17 |  Nottingham Forest | 25 | 25-38 | -13 | 26 |
| 18 |  West Ham | 25 | 31-48 | -17 | 23 |
| 19 |  Burnley | 25 | 25-49 | -24 | 15 |
| 20 |  Wolves | 25 | 16-48 | -32 | 8 |
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion - Europa League (League phase)
- Relegation - Championship
Crystal Palace edged out rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in a tight A23 derby, with Ismaïla Sarr’s second-half strike proving the decisive moment at the Amex Stadium.
The highly anticipated Premier League clash on February 8, 2026, saw both teams seeking crucial points to pull away from the bottom half of the table. Brighton, sitting 13th, faced 15th-placed Crystal Palace in a contest often filled with passion and rivalry.
The first half began with Brighton establishing control of possession, moving the ball with their characteristic fluidity. However, despite their dominance, the Seagulls struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities against a resolute Palace defence.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, adopted a more pragmatic approach, absorbing pressure and looking to hit Brighton on the counter-attack. Their intent to disrupt Brighton’s rhythm was evident early on.
Midfielder Will Hughes received the game’s first booking in the 17th minute for a challenge, setting a physical tone. Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was called into action more often than his counterpart, making three saves in the opening period.
At the other end, Brighton registered two shots on target but found Dean Henderson a solid presence in the Palace goal. Lewis Dunk notably tried his luck twice from defensive positions as Brighton pushed for an opener.
Entering the second half, Brighton knew they needed to translate their possession into tangible chances. Palace, in contrast, aimed to maintain their defensive shape and capitalize on any attacking openings.
The breakthrough arrived for Crystal Palace in the 61st minute. Substitute Evann Guessand, introduced just five minutes earlier, played a decisive pass to Ismaïla Sarr, who coolly slotted the ball past Verbruggen to ignite the away end.
Brighton immediately responded with multiple substitutions to inject fresh attacking impetus. Carlos Baleba, Harrison Howell, and Maxim De Cuyper entered the fray in the 71st minute as the Seagulls desperately sought an equaliser.
The closing stages saw increased tension and a flurry of yellow cards. Daniel Munoz (80′), J. S. Larsen (85′) for Palace, and Brighton’s Diego Gomez (85′) all saw bookings as the game grew fractious.
Palace’s defence, marshalled expertly by Maxence Lacroix, held firm under intense late pressure. They effectively stifled Brighton’s attempts to create meaningful chances despite the home side’s relentless push.
Ultimately, Palace’s clinical edge made the difference. They converted one of their four shots on target, outperforming Brighton’s xG of 0.85 with their own 1.16. Brighton dominated possession with 64% but failed to make it count.
This crucial 0-1 victory sees Crystal Palace leapfrog Brighton in the Premier League standings, climbing to 13th place. For Brighton, the defeat extends a frustrating run of home results and highlights their struggles in front of goal.
