Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday evening when they make the trip to the Amex to take on Brighton & Hove Albion.
Spurs suffered a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the North London derby last weekend, while Brighton played out a pulsating 3-3 draw with Liverpool in Roberto De Zerbi’s first game at the helm.
Match preview
Graham Potter did such a terrific job at Brighton that it is going to be difficult for De Zerbi to improve on last season’s ninth-place finish in the Premier League, but the Italian will have been delighted with what he saw from his new side at Anfield last weekend.
The Seagulls were two goals ahead inside 17 minutes against Liverpool before the home side turned it around to lead 3-2 just past the hour, but Leandro Trossard completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute to secure a share of the spoils for the visitors, who might have been four goals ahead in a dominant start to the match.
A total of 14 points from seven matches has left Brighton in fourth position in the table, one point clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, and they have only lost once in the league this term, which came at Fulham at the end of August.
The Seagulls will be the fresher of the two teams due to Tottenham’s European commitments during the week, and a positive result on Saturday would lead them nicely into matches against Brentford and Nottingham Forest.
Brighton have actually won two of their last three Premier League games against Spurs, including a 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in April, but the North London club recorded a 2-0 win in the corresponding game between the two sides last term.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have also made a strong start to the campaign, winning five, drawing two and losing one of their eight Premier League games to collect 17 points, which has left them third in the table.
Antonio Conte’s side have only won one of their last four games in all competitions, though, and they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby last weekend; Harry Kane’s penalty levelled the scores in the 31st minute, but the Gunners scored twice more through Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka.
Spurs were also in Champions League action on Tuesday evening, picking up a point in a goalless draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, which has left them in second spot in Group D on four points.
There are only three points separating fourth-placed Marseille from leaders Sporting Lisbon in a very tight group, and Conte’s team have a huge home fixture against Frankfurt next week before welcoming Sporting Lisbon and visiting Marseille in their final two group games.
Spurs will take on Everton, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Bournemouth in their four league matches after this one before beginning November with a trip to Liverpool, which will be their penultimate fixture before the season breaks for the 2022 World Cup.
Team News
Brighton will again be missing Jakub Moder with a long-term knee injury, while Enock Mwepu remains a doubt for the Seagulls through illness.
The home side are otherwise in good shape for this contest, though, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Liverpool last time out.
Danny Welbeck was outstanding in the 3-3 draw with the Reds and should again lead the line, with Trossard, who scored three times at Anfield, also operating in the final third of the field, while Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo will feature in the middle of the park.
Conte had been due to speak to the media on Thursday afternoon to confirm the team’s injury situation for this match, but the press conference was postponed following the news that the club’s fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone had passed away suddenly from leukaemia at the age of 61.
Japhet Tanganga, Lucas Moura and Dejan Kulusevski will again definitely be unavailable for selection through injury, while Emerson Royal is suspended due to his red card in the North London derby.
As a result, Ivan Perisic could switch across to the right, with Ryan Sessegnon starting as the left-sided wing-back, but there are not expected to be any surprises elsewhere.
Clement Lenglet should again keep out Ben Davies in a back three, while the absence of Kulusevski will allow Richarlison to feature alongside Kane and Son Heung-min in the final third.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Webster; March, Mac Allister, Caicedo, Estupinan; Trossard, Welbeck, Gross
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Perisic, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon; Richarlison, Kane, Son