Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
In desperate need of a bounce back, Tottenham will be looking to end their run of three defeats on the bounce when they travel down the South Coast to face Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
Brighton
Starting with the hosts, while Brighton may not be the best footballing side in the Premier League, Chris Houghton has certainly turned them into one of the most resilient. Coming off the back of scoring two late goals away at Southampton, The Seagulls have battled back from being 2-0 down to take points off both the Saints and Fulham. It is also their record on home soil that is pleasing the former Newcastle boss. Beating Manchester United 3-2 at home last month, Brighton’s only defeat in their past nine home league games was against Leicester on 31 March. One man to watch will be leading goalscorer Glenn Murray. Finding the net last week, the 34-year-old has scored four goals in five Premier League games this season.
Team News
Midfielder Pascal Gross, who is nursing an ankle injury, remains Brighton’s only absentee.
Winger Jose Izquierdo and forward Florin Andone are awaiting their first appearances of the season after returning to fitness.
Tottenham
As for Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side, this is undoubtedly the hardest time in the Argentinian’s four years in North London. Coming off the back of a last-gasp defeat to Inter Millan in their Champions League opener, since their 3-0 win away at Old Trafford last month, Spurs have lost their last three matches on the bounce by a score of 2-1. The only time under Pochettino that they have lost three games on the bounce, their major problem has been from set pieces. In fact, five of Tottenham’s last six goals conceded have come from a dead ball, something Brighton, and Glenn Murray will be looking to exploit. While their form may be at an all-time low, Spurs do always manage to find the net away from home. Tottenham have failed to score in just one of their last 16 Premier League away games: May’s 1-0 defeat at West Brom.
Team News
Tottenham will assess Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko, who have returned to training after respective hamstring and knee problems.
Hugo Lloris is still injured so Michel Vorm will start in goal.
Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier will return to the squad after being rested in Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at Inter Milan.
Key Factors to Consider
- Brighton’s last win against Tottenham was by 2-1 at home in the top flight in April 1983.
- Spurs are unbeaten in the subsequent four meetings in league and cup (W3, D1), although the only encounter on the south coast was last season’s 1-1 draw.
- The Seagulls have fought back from two goals down to avoid defeat in each of their last two games. No team has ever done this in three consecutive Premier League matches.
- Glenn Murray has scored four goals in five Premier League games this season.
- Five of the six league goals they have conceded this season have been headers. No other side has conceded more than three headed goals in the division.
Conclusion
While on paper this might seem like a great chance for Tottenham to bounce back, Brighton always put on a resilient performance at the Amex. Putting three past Manchester United at home and scoring twice in their last two outings, we believe Brighton will breach what is becoming a leaky Spurs defence. However, given Spurs record of consistently finding the net away from Wembley, backing both teams to score seems like the safest bet here.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
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