Crystal Palace v Brighton: Premier League – live

Hello world! You can keep your clásicos, your NLDs, your Old Firms. Here it is, the M23 Derby. It is well documented that are some that like to poke fun at the concept, but the origins of this derby rivalry are genuine, organic and just as legitimate as many other grudge matches from around the globe. Here is a brief explainer on how Palace and Brighton came to be adversaries, an animosity that started in earnest in the summer of 1977.

If you haven’t come across HLTCO yet, he’s a Palace fan that runs a podcast and a pretty popular Twitter account. I think he does a good job of summing up what the modern Palace (and Brighton fan) feels about this fixture.

Tonight’s game should be a cracker. Selhurst Park is always bouncing under the lights, and the festive season only adds to the occasion. Palace earned a battling 2-2 draw at champions Manchester City last time out, and were also unlucky not to get something from their last home match against Liverpool earlier this month, so while you wouldn’t say Roy Hodgson’s side were in form, they will certainly fancy getting a result tonight.

Brighton are Brighton, so are fascinating to watch but the truth is that they have been inconsistent of late, perhaps burdened by their European adventures. It would not be a huge shock if this ended up either 3-1 to Palace or the same score to the Seagulls.

Of course, poking fun at other fans and other teams is half the fun in football. So, in the interests of balance and fairness, to counter all the earnest stuff at the start of this preamble, please enjoy this.

Kick-off: 8pm GMT.