Crystal Palace

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We asked for one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about regarding Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Olly: What's so encouraging is that we are finding form as a unit, despite the fact that you've still got individuals sidelined with injury or not yet at their best. Jean-Philippe Mateta's not getting the goals we had hoped for, Eberechi Eze is nothing like in the form he was at the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign, Ismaila Sarr has only really settled in the last couple of matches, our midfield talisman Adam Wharton has been out, Eddie Nketiah hasn't settled and Daichi Kamada has struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. Yet despite all that as players return, there is plenty to be optimistic about.

Sam: Tyrick Mitchell. Is he still a player with international potential or has his development stalled somewhere around "good at his role but not exciting"? There's been talk for a while of him needing some competition, but how have the club handled his development and how has he ended up so far from the England team in a position that's a weakness for the country?

Trevor: Without a shadow of a doubt, we have now turned a corner, leaving behind what has been an extremely difficult period. With the return of a number of injured players now available, performances are now being rewarded and our climb up the table will hopefully continue. The big question remains….can we retain our players during the January window and - more to the point - add one or two additions to strengthen the squad?

Sam H: Will Hughes. He has an outstanding work-rate and puts the team ahead of himself on every occasion. His passing, tackling and take-ons have been exceptional and he has been the unsung hero of Palace's recent midfield 'click'. Initially, a temporary replacement for Adam Wharton - he seems almost irreplaceable in the starting line-up now.

Jim: What's happening with Selhurst Park redevelopment?

Sunday's win at Brighton felt like a statement that Crystal Palace were putting their difficult start to the season behind them.

With two games against Arsenal this week, one a Carabao Cup quarter-final, it promises to be an interesting few days for Oliver Glasner's side.

But within that, we need your help. You know the Eagles best, so tell us, what is the one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about?

Have your say here - and come back on Wednesday for a selection of replies

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final at Arsenal.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He provided a fitness update for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze: "JP [Mateta] is OK. We will take the final decision tomorrow with Eze, but it looks quite good."

• He confirmed midfielder Adam Wharton still is not back in full training: "I think it will take a few weeks until he is available."

• Glasner insisted he will put out a strong team: "Of course. It's the quarter-final of a cup competition. Every single game we call up the fittest team and tomorrow will be the same. If somebody is tired, they will get a break to rest."

• On Eddie Nketiah, who joined Palace from the Gunners: "I'm pretty sure he will get minutes in his old stadium. He's very ambitious and he's working hard. He had a very positive impact at Brighton - we got the game in more control. He wants to score and I see that every day in training."

• On Wednesday's opponents: "I think it's possible [that we win]. They have been struggling a few weeks ago but now injured players are coming back and their form has got better and better."

• He elaborated on the Gunners' strengths: "They have a clear structure - wide wingers [who are] good in the one v ones and half spaces, going in behind, early crosses. They are very dominant in possession and have a very good balance. Mikel Arteta is a fantastic manager."

Follow all of Tuesday's Carabao Cup news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

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It has been 13 years since Crystal Palace made it to the League Cup quarter-finals. On that occasion it was a famous victory at Old Trafford for the then Championship team. A memorable Darren Ambrose goal from long range sits high in the list of those in club history.

Only four players involved in that game remain at the club. One of them that started that game is still on the pitch. Nathaniel Clyne, then a promising, homegrown 20-year-old right-back is now a 33-year-old veteran who returned four years ago. With Daniel Munoz suspended, he may be playing once again.

Dougie Freedman is now a sporting director rather than a fledgling manager elsewhere. Paddy McCarthy and Julian Speroni are on the coaching staff of the first team and academy respectively.

This is the eighth time the club has reached this stage of the competition since it started in 1960. On four occasions, the team advanced and was defeated over two legs in the semi-finals, but the final continued to escape them.

Wednesday may just be another match for Arsenal, and with a title challenge, FA Cup and European campaign among their priorities, that is justified. For Palace fans, with their club still seeking a cup victory, ending the wait would be everything.

The turnaround in Premier League fortunes certainly helps, and an emphatic victory at rivals Brighton lifted the club further from the bottom three and alleviated some pressure before a double-header of fixtures against Arsenal.

After a run of games primarily against teams higher in the table, the team has had to weather the storm for periods in matches while defending and relying on their pace to break forward and counter - with some success.

Palace fans hope that strategy will succeed once again on Wednesday night.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

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Oliver Glasner's choice to select the same back three in 10 out of their past 11 games has helped Crystal Palace to become defensively consistent, says former Premier League left-back Stephen Warnock.

"It's a big difference when you've got continuity in the backline - the two wing-backs Munoz and Mitchell, and the goalkeeper as well," Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"You have then got that continuity at the back and that understanding.

"It's not easy coming into a team when you're used to playing in a back four. Lacroix and Chalobah are pretty much used to playing in a back four. They've played in back threes before, but when asked to do it on a regular basis it's trying to understand when to step out and when not to.

"What you don't want to be as a centre-back is in a back three on the right or the left. You don't want to play right-back or left-back because it's not your job.

"These guys look fit again. They looked a bit fatigued at the start of the season and not quite at their maximum, but now they look so much better.

"Glasner is one of these managers who expects high work-rate in training all the time and the players have had to adapt to that. Even for the new players coming in, it's a different mentality than they're used to."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans:

Sarah: Same old Brighton. 64% possession, 17 vs 13 shots on target and we still managed to lose. Apart from 10 minutes at the start of the second half, we looked lacklustre and out of ideas. Poor play from all our 'best' players. Enciso was the only player who seemed to care. With the biggest spend on players ever, fans are right to expect better. Hurzeler needs to do something about this now.

Liam: No shortage of effort to try and turn it around in the second half, but we got a lesson in how to hold shape, and how to defend. Hurzeler with work to do, and a decision to make on whether this current defensive unit is good enough.

Archie: We had a really poor first half, looked disinterested, lost the ball too easily and played without any intensity on and off the ball. We didn't make it difficult for Palace at all. Best spell was in the second half, we were quite unlucky to not get another goal, but we were flat and unconvincing for the majority of the game. We really missed Veltman again. Lamptey's defensive game isn't good enough. Poor display but still back Hurzeler to turn it around.

Robert: Where do I start? Too many players lacking passion to win this game. They wanted it more than us and once they scored we never looked like getting back in the game. If you can't raise your game for a game against your biggest rivals I'm slightly concerned. Another terrible day in an awful December so far for the Albion. We can and must do better than this.

Palace fans:

Gavin: Good to see Palace execute a clear game plan and the first half was excellent for Palace in the way we fashioned the two goals. Second half we had to absorb a great deal of pressure with Henderson making some excellent saves. Palace definitely the better side and a deserved win.

Robert: Palace are just growing from strength to strength after a dismal start to the season. A 3-1 victory at the Amex was wishful thinking, but again thanks to some amazing performances by Will Hughes, Daniel Munoz and especially Dean Henderson - who again produced some world class saves - it was our day. To top it all was Sarr's second goal - heading the ball down to his own feet to produce a superb goal. Well done the Eagles!

Richard: Fantastic, great game plan by Glasner. Soaked up the pressure in both halves and took our chances well. The team seemed supremely composed throughout. Up the table we go.

Neil: An excellent result against one of our long-standing rivals, especially as it was away. Asserted themselves early in the game and maintained the pressure. Encouraging to see the boys building some momentum and stepping up to beat one of the top sides. A huge relief.

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Ismaila Sarr will be "a hero" to Crystal Palace fans after scoring twice against rivals Brighton, says former striker Clinton Morrison.

The 26-year-old wrapped up the points against Brighton to secure a first Palace victory over the Seagulls since 2021.

"I was the first one to question the signing," said Morrison on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "But in the last five or six games Palace have gone unbeaten and scoring two goals in a derby will make him a hero!

"Sarr looked to have lost his way when he went to Marseille but he has come to Palace and is now a regular for them. He causes problems because he has bundles of pace and his confidence will be growing because he's scoring goals.

"Oliver Glasner seems to be getting the best out of him and long may it continue. I have to give huge credit to the team because they are playing really well at the moment and have turned it around."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 2-2 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa

• Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace

• Man City 1-2 Man Utd

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking to BBC Sport after the win: "All the credit goes to the players. We defended compact, we didn't give them many situations.

"They changed their system and we struggled to put pressure on the ball. In this phase we needed Dean Henderson who made two or three big saves. The 3-0 was the moment that decided the game for us and it was a very positive performance.

"We knew that if we were patient we would get better performances. Some players were not fit, new signings, but we didn't want to talk about this and look to be making excuses. We are getting more confident with how we want to play.

"It was always clear for us that we would get better results. But it is not time to relax, it is time to keep going.

"Our fans are always supporting us, especially after a difficult start. I said to the players today was a chance to give them a little bit back, a Christmas gift."

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It was Palace's first win against Brighton since February 2021, ending a run of six winless Premier League fixtures against them (D4 L2). Each of the Eagles' last three Premier League wins against them have now come away from home.

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Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson speaking to Sky Sports after today's victory: "It's absolutely massive. The fans have been patient with us this season. We are in a false position, we have great players and today it all clicked.

"We knew they would come out [in the second half] and it would be hard. Luckily I helped the team today.

"When you're in that moment, you feel good, you feel unbeatable. Thankfully we got the third but unfortunately we conceded at the end.

"They [the fans] have been on at us all week, telling us you can be a hero if we win this game."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brighton’s performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace’s display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Read the report and follow reaction

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 16 he takes on darts star Stephen Bunting, who is a Liverpool fan.

Bunting, who is ranked eighth in the Professional Darts Championship (PDC) order of merit, takes on Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt in the second round of the PDC World Championship, which starts at London's Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

No top-flight team has drawn more home games (four) than Brighton this season, and Crystal Palace have drawn the most in total (seven) of any Premier League side - including four of their past six games.

As regular readers will know, I am happy to be led by statistics sometimes, and they make this the easiest prediction I have ever made.

Bunting's prediction: 2-2

There will definitely be goals in this one.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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As Brighton prepare to host Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend, Fabian Hurzeler has been revealing all about his relationship with opposition manager and "great coach" Oliver Glasner.

The two bosses got to know each other "a little bit" during their managerial spells in Germany, which happened to land at the same time, as Hurzeler took charge of St Pauli and Glasner led Eintracht Frankfurt.

"When I was at St Pauli, we played a very similar system. We both played with five at the back," said Hurzeler.

"He had great success with his former club, Frankfurt, winning a trophy with this club is a big thing. His style of play was outstanding. He was always very compact and very good in transition.

"When he arrived at Crystal Palace, he immediately had an impact on the club and on the Premier League. That shows his quality."

Hurzeler added that he has been in contact with Glasner since taking charge of the Seagulls in the summer: "We were in touch. We had some calls because we know each other a little bit.

"He is very helpful and open-minded. He is a great coach.

"He has achieved a lot of things and he is continuing to make a big career. He is a role model, I think, in how he acts and how humble and grounded he is.

"He has the attitude to become a great manager."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Midfielder Adam Wharton will not be available after having a reaction to Wednesday and Thursday's "intense" training sessions. Glasner is hopeful he will return to face Arsenal on Saturday, 21 December.

• Defender Joel Ward is also unlikely to feature as he has been experiencing some issues with his calf.

• Glasner confirmed Matheus Franca remains in rehabilitation and "if everything goes in the right direction", he will return to team training in the New Year.

• He hopes some injured players will recover in the coming weeks because they "will need all of them in this busy period."

• On midfielder Will Hughes, who impressed against Manchester City: "He's not just a performer - he's also a leader in the dressing room. His passing, his fighting spirit and he's one of the few players who is talking on the pitch. Every manager is looking for some guys who are talking on the pitch - he's one of them - so he's very important for our game."

• He said Palace "are more stable" than they were at the start of the season, but "it's not about leaning back and relaxing" as there are still things to work on.

• On what his side still need to improve on: "We have to improve our efficiency in front of the goal. We can be more clinical with the final pass, with finishing and with how we attack."

• He said the Brighton game "is important for our fans, so it's important for us and we go there to take the win."

• On what to expect from Fabian Hurzeler's side: "It's not too easy to prepare for this game because they are quite flexible. On the other side, especially in the last games, they conceded several goals and so there will be also be chances for us."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Brighton v Crystal Palace from 14:00 on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live

Crystal Palace want a trio of players from Lyon, with 21-year-old Ghana winger Ernest Nuamah, 21-year-old French winger Rayan Cherki and 19-year-old French defender Sael Kumbedi all in their sights. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Crystal Palace have an active interest in Fluminense's 27-year-old Colombia winger Jhon Arias heading into the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external

Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham are all interested in Lyon's French winger Ernest Nuamah, 21. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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The fixture list in December is always busy for every club.

Crystal Palace have started the month positively and picked up four points from their games against Ipswich - a first away win of the season - and Manchester City.

The Eagles travel to rivals Brighton on Sunday just four points above the relegation zone, despite losing just one of their past seven Premier League games.

Manager Oliver Glasner has said that midfielder Adam Wharton could be available for the trip to Amex Stadium - if he comes through training this week. That would be a huge boost to a squad starting to find its feet after a slow start.

After the Brighton game, Palace take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

It would be a big ask to expect the Eagles to win that game - but if they are able to get a result against Brighton and then beat what is currently an injury-hit Arsenal squad, their season could take on a totally different feeling in just a few days.