EPL: Crystal Palace v Brighton preview

Crystal Palace v Brighton preview

Crystal Palace hope to have Christian Benteke and Alexander Sorloth available for their derby clash with Brighton on Saturday.

Benteke missed last weekend's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth with a groin problem while Sorloth has been out since March due to a hamstring issue.

However, both have been back in training and could feature as Palace look to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Palace are three points above the relegation zone and manager Roy Hodgson has called for calm heads for Saturday's derby showdown.

"The fact that it is Brighton and there is this enormous rivalry between the two teams I can't deny it gives it an extra edge," he said. "We have to be very careful that what we do in the game is designed purely and simply to get us to win the match.

 

Roy Hodgson is appealing for calm on and off the pitch when Crystal Palace play Brighton on Saturday

 

"We must not allow our hearts to rule our heads to the extent that we make mistakes tactically or by showing too much emotion which maybe leads to a player getting booked or sent off which can happen in these derby games."

The reverse fixture at the Amex Stadium in November, which finished goalless, was marred by crowd trouble with Brighton accusing a minority of Palace fans of being "intent on causing disorder".

Brighton are seven points above the relegation zone and have lost two of their last three games in the Premier League.

 

Strikers Benteke (groin) and Sorloth (hamstring) have both returned to training but Jeffrey Schlupp (ankle) is out.

Brighton will be without Davy Propper after he failed to get his red card against Huddersfield overturned.

But Anthony Knockaert returns to the squad after completing his three-game suspension.