Crystal Palace v Brighton team line-ups: Benteke handed rare start in SE25 grudge clash

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Christian Benteke makes his first Premier League start since August 18 as Crystal Palace face Brighton in a grudge match at Selhurst Park.

The forward has not scored for the Eagles this season and arguably only a spate of injuries sees him spearhead the hosts’ attack.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson is without Andros Townsend, Gary Cahill, Joel Ward, Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp due to injury. Mamadou Sakho is still serving the suspension he picked up after being sent off against AFC Bournemouth.

Jairo Riedewald is set to play as an emergency left-back for Palace.

The Eagles have won only one of the eight top-flight meetings between the two clubs and Brighton are hunting a third straight victory for the first time since 1983.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Kelly, Dann, Tomkins, Riedewald, Milivojevic, McArthur, Kouyate, Zaha, Benteke, Ayew. Subs: Hennessey, Meyer, Wickham, McCarthy, Camarasa, Woods, Mitchell.

Brighton: Ryan, Dunk, Maupay, Bissouma, Trossard, Gross, Webster, Mooy, Montoya, Propper, Burn. Subs: Button, Duffy, Jahanbakhsh, Murray, Scheletto, Bernardo, Alzate.