Brighton & Hove Albion produced a devastating performance to demolish Crystal Palace 5-0 in the Premier League on Sunday. The emphatic victory at the Amex Stadium moves Fabian Hürzeler's side up to third in the league table with 16 points from seven games, just five points behind leaders Manchester City. Their record of five wins, one draw and one loss this season has them firmly in the top four.
The home side were three goals up within ten astonishing minutes. Palace defender Jaydee Canvot turned the ball into his own net in the fourth minute under pressure from Simon Adingra. Diego Gomez then doubled the lead three minutes later, finishing from close range after a pass from Olivier Boscagli. Yasin Ayari made it three in the tenth minute, converting a cross from Charalampos Kostoulas.
Brighton's control was absolute, reflected in 57% possession and 17 shots to Palace's five. The fourth goal arrived four minutes after the restart, Kostoulas turning scorer to cap a fine individual display, firing in after a clever pass from Adingra. Substitute Jack Hinshelwood completed the rout six minutes from time, slotting home after coming on for Pascal Groß, who is the club's top scorer this season with three goals.
Palace powerless to respond
Crystal Palace offered little in response, with Adam Wharton later admitting his side were not good enough from the first whistle. Jean-Philippe Mateta, returning from injury, hit the crossbar with a header, while Eddie Nketiah missed a clear chance after coming off the bench. The result extends Brighton's perfect start to the season, with five consecutive wins in all competitions. Their recent form is five wins and no draws or losses from their last five matches, a run that began with a 3-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday 19 September.
This was Brighton's first win over their rivals since a 4-1 victory in February 2024. The team's attacking variety was on full display, with Gomez's early strike adding to a league-leading tally of goals from outside the box this season. The squad depth was also evident, with Hinshelwood's goal coming after a triple substitution in the 71st minute that also introduced Georginio Rutter and Jaouen Hadjam.
With 23 goals scored and only five conceded, Brighton now have the Premier League's second-best goal difference. They face a significant test of their title credentials next Saturday with a trip to face fifth-placed Liverpool in their next fixture. The team's current form shows a remarkable run of five straight wins, including a 4-0 Europa Conference League victory over Kauno Žalgiris last Thursday. Their next challenge comes away to Liverpool on Sunday 25 October. Manager Hürzeler praised his team's intensity and the impact of the substitutes.
Manager Fabian Hürzeler reflected on Brighton's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on October 18. Hürzeler said his side "played in the flow" at the Amex Stadium. The manager stated, "It’s just a privilege to be part of this group." The victory extended Brighton's winning run to five matches in all competitions. The club now sits third in the Premier League with 16 points from seven games.
