Seeking their fifth consecutive Premier League home win, Tottenham Hotspur hosts Brighton & Hove Albion in North London on Saturday afternoon.
Last weekend saw the Lilywhites give up two one-goal leads in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Everton, while the Seagulls achieved a 4-1 win over M23 derby rivals Crystal Palace.
Match preview
Tottenham’s star forward, formerly of Everton, Richarlison, looked particularly downcast after scoring twice at his old ground last weekend, mirroring the disappointment of his teammates at the end of the match in Merseyside.
The Brazil star outplayed Jordan Pickford with two brilliant goals, flanking an unusual equalizer by Jack Harrison in the first half. However, Tottenham conceded from a set piece in the final moments as Jarrad Branthwaite scored a last-minute equalizer.
Everton’s first goal was controversial, as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, frequently targeted by Everton from corners, claimed he was fouled by Harrison, leading to questions from Ange Postecoglou about officials’ hesitation to call fouls on goalkeepers.
After a similar event in their FA Cup defeat to Manchester City and with Aston Villa thrashing Sheffield United 5-0 later, Tottenham dropped to fifth in the Premier League, just two points behind the Lions. A win before Unai Emery’s team faces Manchester United on Sunday could move them up.
Winning only one of their last four games and conceding seven goals doesn’t bode well for Tottenham’s fans, nor does their failure to keep a clean sheet at home since October. However, they’ve won their last four home league games.
Scoring in their next game would tie Tottenham for the second-longest scoring streak in Premier League history. Brighton showed no need for offensive advice in their last meetings with Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
Without Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, Crystal Palace struggled at the Amex Stadium, where Brighton players shone in a memorable derby victory.
Despite their inconsistency, Brighton’s win keeps them close to European qualification, lying eighth, just a point behind West Ham. Their recent scoring pattern, alternating between high-scoring games and blanks, might worry some fans as they travel to London.
Brighton’s lack of away wins and goals adds to their challenge, and despite beating Tottenham in December, they’ve never won back-to-back league games against them.
Team News
With South Korea and Mali out of their respective tournaments, Tottenham welcomes back Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma, though Bissouma’s condition post-malaria needs checking.
Giovani Lo Celso might recover from a thigh issue, but Ryan Sessegnon and Manor Solomon are likely out due to injuries. Son’s return could impact Timo Werner’s starting position, despite recent good performances, and Dejan Kulusevski may replace Brennan Johnson.
Brighton expects Kaoru Mitoma back after an ankle injury, but Simon Adingra is busy with the AFCON final. Injuries keep Julio Enciso, Solly March, Joel Veltman, and James Milner sidelined.
Ansu Fati’s recent comeback might not change the winning lineup, except for a possible Evan Ferguson for Danny Welbeck substitution.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario;
Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie;
Sarr, Hojbjerg;
Kulusevski, Maddison, Son;
Richarlison
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen;
Van Hecke, Igor, Dunk;
Hinshelwood, Gross, Gilmour, Lamptey;
Buonanotte, Pedro;
Ferguson
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton’s big win over Palace could kickstart a consistent performance, but their fluctuating form and weak away attack suggest challenges ahead. Tottenham, despite occasional defensive issues, benefit from home advantage and Son’s return, making them favorites to win.
