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Tottenham vs Brighton Preview | Team News, Stats & Key Men

Tottenham must get their top four charge back on track during their home fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion. They are currently in third position, but it is far from secure, with only three points separating them from Manchester United in 6th. The weekend’s results were positive for them, as two of their three rivals dropped points. The supporters will be focused on the Champions League, but Mauricio Pochettino will know the importance of finishing in the top four. To ensure they achieve this, they can’t afford to drop any more points.

This season has been another one of progression for Tottenham and it will remain as such even if they fail to lift a trophy. The only chance they have of silverware comes in the Champions League, with a semi-final clash against Ajax on the horizon. The recent injury to Harry Kane has given them attacking problems, but Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura have stepped up to offer alternative options. They have a 100% record at their new stadium so far and they will be desperate to maintain that with another victory on Tuesday night.

Brighton are in a vulnerable position at the bottom of the table. They have a three-point lead on Cardiff City in 18th position with a superior goal difference and a game in hand. Unfortunately for the Seagulls, their game in hand is away from home against Tottenham. They will look to be difficult to break down and try to nick a goal via a set piece situation. That is their best chance of winning at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There were positive signs in terms of their defensive efforts against Wolves as they kept a vital clean sheet. However, they didn’t offer a lot of attacking threat and that remains a major concern.

Interesting stats

Tottenham have lost 11 Premier League matches, which is more than they have suffered in their previous two campaigns.

Brighton haven’t won away against Tottenham since 1981. They will be hoping to strengthen their survival hopes by ending that record this weekend.

Key men

Lucas Moura

The Brazilian has emerged as an important first-team player for Tottenham over the course of the season. He joined the club last year and has proven himself to be a goal threat in the Premier League. His best performances have come when Harry Kane has been out of the team. That was evident a couple of weeks ago when he scored a hat-trick against Huddersfield Town. Although the opposition wasn’t the best, he was clinical in front of goal. He has scored ten times in the Premier League this season, scoring one every 180.2 minutes. That is an excellent strike rate considering he isn’t a natural striker. His pace and movement will cause a lot of problems for the Brighton defence. The visitors may have kept a clean sheet at the weekend, but their recent run of form suggests they will be liable to make errors. Lucas can benefit from those.

Dunk

The center-back has been an excellent servant to the football club, with his performances in the Premier League earning him an England call-up. Considering the lack of goals in this Brighton team, he will be crucial as the team attempt to stay above the safety line. In terms of goals, it is likely that they will be most dangerous from set-piece situations. This is another reason why he will be important on Tuesday, as he has scored twice this season. Tottenham are going to dominate possession and put the Brighton defence under a lot of pressure. It is crucial that Dunk is at his best to give his team any chance of getting something from the game. If Fernando Llorente starts, the 27-year-old will need to show his aerial dominance.

Team news

Hugo Lloris should be back to start for the home side, after missing the trip to Manchester City in the league. However, Harry Kane remains on the injury list and won’t be fit to feature on Tuesday night.

Anthony Knockaert will be missing as he serves the final match of his three-game ban. Davy Propper is unlikely to play after being taken off with an injury at the weekend. Bruno was also taken off against Wolves, but he could be okay to start against Tottenham.

Verdict

Although Brighton showed fighting spirit to earn a point against Wolves, they remain a team that is in poor form and Tottenham should have more than enough to win on Tuesday night. The attacking duo of Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min has been impressive during recent weeks. The pace and dynamic movement of the two should cause the visitors a lot of problems at the back. A home victory should be a safe bet as Spurs try to get their Premier League season back on track.

Tottenham 3-0 Brighton

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