Tottenham Hotspur takes on Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League in a game that promises to be an exciting game on all fronts.
Spurs come into this game sitting fifth in the Premier League table. Ange Postecoglou has done a very impressive job at the club in his first season in charge. With just two points outside of the top four, the Australian tactician will want his players to push and keep trying to climb up the table.
The North London club were one of the more active teams in the subdue January transfer window. Spurs did business early in the window, bringing in Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner. They also let Eric Dier leave on a permanent transfer to Bayern Munich. With most of their injured players returning to action, the club need to start getting on a run.
Brighton & Hove Albion on the other hand have been like a pendulum, oscillating between ‘unbelievably good’ and ‘very poor’ this season. The aura that Roberto de Zerbi built around his team in the initial days seems to have dissipated. This should be a highly winnable game for Spurs, considering the situation.
All this makes the game between Spurs and the Seagulls a very interesting watch and here is everything you need to know about it.
DATE & TIME?
February 10, 2023, 3:00pm UK time
TEAM NEWS
The biggest news for Tottenham is the return of captain Son Heung-min and he should slot in right back into the starting XI. Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are also back from their national duties. Manor Solomon, Ryan Sessegnon, and Giovani Lo Celso are out of action, although the Argentine is still considered doubtful for this game. Postecoglou has close to his full squad to play with, in this game.
Brighton on the other hand are considerably in a better situation than they were when the two teams faced back in December. Solly March, James Milner, Joel Veltman, and Julio Enciso are all out of contention as things stand. Simon Adingra remains with the Ivory Coast, who have reached the Africa Cup of Nations final on home soil. Kaoru Mitoma will be back which is a huge boost for Roberto de Zerbi.
MATCH ANALYSIS
Tottenham Hotspur
One thing you can be sure about Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham is that he will lineup with a 4-2-3-1 formation and set his team up to play exciting, attacking football.
The starting XI is a no-brainer when everyone is fit and available. Guglielmo Vicario will start in goal and will guard a backline consisting of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie.
The midfield is likely to see Rodrigo Bentancur and one of Yves Bissouma or Pape Matar Sarr, depending on who is in a better position to play following the AFCON campaign.
Ahead of the duo, Son Heung-min is likely to replace Timo Werner on the left, James Maddison will play through the middle as the #10 and Dejan Kulusevski will lineup as the right-winger. Richarlison will continue to lead the line, hoping to build on his impressive form.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton will likely lineup in Roberto de Zerbi’s newly adopted 3-4-3 formation. The principle is always constant, where they try to keep the ball, bait the opponent into pressurizing them and play through the press with a set of intricate passes.
Bart Verbruggen is expected to start in goal. Igor Julio, Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke will be the three centre-backs at the back. Tariq Lamptey and Jack Hinshelwood would look to provide the depth on either side of the field. Billy Gilmour and Pascal Gross would man the midfield.
The forward line is likely to consist of Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma, playing slightly off a conventional number nine like Danny Welbeck.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Richarlison.
Brighton & Hove Albion (3-4-2-1): Verbruggen; Van Hecke, Dunk, Julio; Hinshelwood, Gross, Gilmour, Lamptey; Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck.
