Brighton 5-0 Crystal Palace: Seagulls Hit Five to Keep Pace Near the Summit
Brighton routed Crystal Palace 5-0 at the Amex, three goals in each half moving the Seagulls firmly into the Premier League’s top three.
Published 18 Oct 20262 min read
Brighton swept Crystal Palace aside 5-0 at the Amex Stadium, scoring three times before the interval and twice more after it to record the statement win of Round 7. The result lifts Brighton to third in the Premier League table on 14 points, keeps them firmly in the Champions League places, and sends Palace home with their heaviest defeat of the season so far.
MatchView the live match centreA one-sided afternoon on the south coast
The contest was effectively settled inside the opening 45 minutes. Brighton went in at the break 3-0 to the good, and the pattern of the half — sustained pressure, quick ball movement and a Crystal Palace side unable to get a foothold — never looked like changing.
If Palace hoped for a response after the restart, none came. Brighton added two more goals without reply in the second half, and but for the final whistle the margin might have grown further; the hosts finished the game the way they started it, on the front foot and in complete control.
For a Brighton side that has now scored 21 goals in seven league matches — the most potent attack in the division — this was the most complete performance of the campaign. Five different phases of quality, five goals, and a defensive record that has conceded only five times all season.
What it means for the table
Brighton sit third, behind only Manchester City’s perfect 21-point start and Arsenal. With 14 points from seven games and a goal difference now standing at plus 16, the Seagulls have put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack, and results like this one turn top-four ambition into something closer to expectation.
For Crystal Palace, the damage is as much psychological as statistical. A 5-0 reverse leaves questions about a defence that was opened repeatedly, and the international break gives their staff a fortnight to find answers before league football resumes.
Final score: Brighton 5-0 Crystal Palace (half-time 3-0). Venue: Amex Stadium. Competition: Premier League, Round 7. Report by Callum Hendry; match data and imagery from the OneLightScore platform library, reusable licence.