Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they travel to the Amex on Sunday evening to take on Brighton & Hove Albion.
Spurs suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to champions Liverpool on Thursday night, while Brighton will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Fulham.
Match preview
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Brighton have won three, drawn nine and lost eight of their 20 Premier League matches this season, with a total of 18 points leaving them in 17th position in the table, just five points clear of 18th-placed Fulham, who have a game in hand.
The Seagulls shared the points with Fulham at the Amex on Wednesday evening, with the result following a 1-0 victory away to Leeds United on January 16. Graham Potter's side have actually only lost two of their last eight in England's top flight, but a lack of wins this season has left them in a difficult position in the table.
Brighton will certainly be wary of picking up another disappointing result on Sunday considering that their next match is away to Liverpool on February 3, while they also face a tough trip to a revitalised Burnley on February 6 before tackling Leicester City in the FA Cup.
Potter's team actually beat Spurs 3-0 when the two teams locked horns in the corresponding match last season, but the capital giants have recorded 2-1 victories in the last two meetings, both of which were at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December 2019 and November 2020 respectively.
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Spurs, as mentioned, will enter Sunday's contest off the back of a 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool on Thursday night, and the result was even more damaging considering that Harry Kane picked up injuries to both of his ankles, meaning that the striker is facing a few weeks on the sidelines.
Jose Mourinho's side had been on an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions before the clash with the Reds, and they will be desperate to return to winning ways ahead of a huge London derby against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea team on February 4.
A record of nine wins, six draws and four defeats from 19 matches has seen Tottenham collect 33 points, which has left them in sixth position in the table, four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand and eight points behind leaders Manchester City on the same number of matches.
Mourinho's team are also still in the Europa League and FA Cup, meaning that it could be a successful end to the season for the club despite having some teething problems thus far this term.
Tottenham's away form this season has been impressive, meanwhile, winning five of their nine matches, collecting 18 points in the process, and they will be taking on a Brighton side yet to record a single victory at the Amex during the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.
Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form: DLDLWD
Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions): DWLWWD
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form: LDWDWL
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions): WWDWWL
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Brighton will again be without the services of Jose Izquierdo, Florin Andone, Tariq Lamptey, Danny Welbeck and Alireza Jahanbakhsh this weekend through injury, while Jason Steele is a doubt.
The Seagulls did not pick up any fresh issues against Fulham, though, and there is a chance that Potter could decide to select the same XI that took to the field against Scott Parker's side.
Neal Maupay could again be joined by Leandro Trossard in the final third of the field, although Aaron Connolly and Percy Tau are options for change in the attacking positions.
As for Tottenham, Kane will miss out with the ankle issues that he picked up against Liverpool, while Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon have also been ruled out through injury.
Dele Alli is still struggling with a tendon problem, although it is unlikely that the Englishman will be involved even if he proves his fitness as a loan exit could be sanctioned before the end of the month.
Mourinho has already confirmed that Joe Rodon will keep his spot in the starting XI, but Toby Alderweireld and Lucas Moura are pushing for spots in the side.
Kane's absence could see Son Heung-min pressed into action through the middle, although Gareth Bale, Erik Lamela and Carlos Vinicius are also options for Mourinho, who could stick with a three-man defence.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; White, Dunk, Webster; Veltman, Gross, Bissouma, Mac Allister, March; Trossard, Maupay
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Rodon, Dier, Alderweireld; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Davies; Lucas, Son, Bergwijn
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton have been the draw specialists in the Premier League this season, sharing the points on nine occasions, and we can see another draw in this contest. Kane's absence will hurt Tottenham, and we believe that Mourinho's side will drop more points at the Amex on Sunday night.
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