Crystal Palace host Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday night in the 2021/22 Premier League season’s first M23 derby.

The Eagles have made a mixed start to life under Patrick Vieira, suffering a couple of heavy defeats, while also dishing out a 3-0 spanking of their own against Tottenham Hotspur. On the other hand, the Seagulls are soaring this year, having won four of their opening five matches.

The two sides will be desperate to hold the initial bragging rights in this fiercely-contested derby, although the hosts are in greater need of a securing three points than Graham Potter’s all-conquering Brighton.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Monday’s big matchup.

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When is it being played? Monday 27 September, 20:00 (BST)

Where is the match being played? Selhurst Park

TV channel? Sky Sports (UK), FuboTV (US)

Referee? Jarred Gillett

VAR? Chris Kavanagh

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The big decision for Vieira is whether to hand summer signing Odsonne Edouard a start against the Seagulls. The Frenchman came on as a substitute to score twice against Spurs in the 3-0 win, but found himself on the bench once again in the defeat to Liverpool.

Vieira could opt to hand him his full debut ahead of Christian Benteke on Monday. Eberechi Eze is still out of contention, but Jeffrey Schlupp may well feature. Loanee Conor Gallagher will be crucial in the midfield, while Wilfried Zaha will want to sink the Eagles‘ rivals.

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Potter has some major injury concerns to contend with ahead of this crucial clash, with midfield talisman Yves Bissouma facing a race against time to return to full fitness. He suffered a knock during the win over Leicester City, but he is in the squad to face Palace.

Fellow midfielder Enock Mwepu suffered an injury of his own in the midweek Carabao Cup victory, but like Bissouma, he should be back for the visitors. Elsewhere, Tariq Lamptey gained some much needed minutes against Swansea, but it might not be enough for him to start.

Aaron Connolly’s two goals in the Carabao Cup have given Potter something to think about, but Neal Maupay’s impressive start to the season lands him in pole position for the derby.

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Crystal Palace: Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; McArthur, Kouyate, Gallagher; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha

Brighton: Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Duffy; March, Bissouma, Lallana, Cucurella; Trossard, Maupay, Welbeck

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This derby often proves an fair fight between two evenly matched sides, and it’s not easy to separate the pair. In fact, only one game has been won by more than a one-goal margin in the past nine meetings, when Brighton ran out victorious with a 3-1 scoreline in 2018.

Palace won the most recent encounter thanks to Christian Benteke’s injury-time strike, and Brighton’s last success in this fixture came back in 2019, when Anthony Knockhaert became the hero. The Seagulls did the double over the Eagles that year, and they’ll be hoping to kick off their rivalry in similar fashion this time round.

As for Palace, they’ve only won three of the past nine meetings, so Vieira will be aiming to boost that record and make it four wins in 10 at Selhurst Park.

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Neither team will want to lose this game, and the motivation for both is extremely high. Palace need to start getting more consistent points on the board, while Potter won’t want his side to come crashing down from the wave they’re currently riding.

Inevitably, the Selhurst Park faithful could play a huge part in this clash, and if they create the barmy atmosphere that they’re capable of producing, it could edge the Eagles to victory.

We fancy Palace to just about get this one over the line, and we wouldn’t bet against some late, late drama separating the two sides yet again.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton