AliousSelhurst Park was the stage for a dramatic and high-octane Premier League showdown on Saturday, as Crystal Palace edged out Brighton 2-1 in a fiery encounter that featured three red cards, a lightning-fast goal, and over 13 minutes of stoppage time.
The bitter rivalry between the two sides was on full display as referee Anthony Taylor struggled to keep a lid on proceedings. Jean-Philippe Mateta gave the Eagles a dream start, finding the net just over two minutes in—Palace’s quickest goal of the Premier League campaign. Later, Daniel Muñoz secured the winning goal in what turned out to be an emotionally charged and chaotic contest in SE25.
Despite the intense animosity that usually defines this fixture, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler made a surprising admission after the final whistle. In a rare moment of honesty that’s unlikely to sit well with Brighton supporters, the German coach conceded that Palace simply wanted it more. Speaking to Premier League Productions, and as quoted by the BBC, Hürzeler said: “It was very wild. We couldn’t control it at the end. The hunger was bigger from Palace. We made another silly mistake and got the red card. We did too many easy mistakes. We weren’t aggressive enough, the hunger wasn’t there. Why? We have to analyse.”
Palace’s early intensity set the tone for the game, and although Brighton responded well in the first half, the home side maintained the upper hand throughout. With two Palace players and one Brighton player sent off, the match descended into a test of discipline and grit—one that Oliver Glasner’s side passed.
What’s even more remarkable is Palace’s position in the league. After a disastrous start to the season—winless in their first eight matches—the Eagles now sit just four points off eighth place with a game in hand, placing them surprisingly close to European qualification. They’re also preparing for an FA Cup semi-final, underlining the extent of their resurgence under Glasner.
The impressive turnaround hasn’t gone unnoticed. Reports from *TBR Football* suggest that Tottenham are monitoring Glasner amid uncertainty surrounding Ange Postecoglou’s future, while Liverpool are said to be eyeing Marc Guehi, whose contract will enter its final year this summer.
Yet if Palace can maintain their momentum, secure a European spot, or even win the FA Cup, they might just persuade key figures like Glasner and Guehi to commit their futures to the south London club.
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