It’s the festive season and the Premier League is in full swing, adding more joy to our lives. However, if you’re an Aston Villa fan, seeing a 2-0 lead being overturned by Manchester United may not have been a joyful experience. Gameweek 19 is underway, and the top of the table is tightly contested. This season, no team is dominating the Premier League, and even Manchester City is showing signs of vulnerability. We’re almost at the halfway point of the season, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting race for the title.
Tottenham has a great opportunity to secure the third spot in the table after their match against Brighton & Hove Albion. However, they will need to win the match by a two-goal margin or more to achieve this. Yet, their main focus should be on securing the three points, which is of the utmost importance. Ange Postecoglou will surely keep this in mind and concentrate on getting the win.
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Brighton on the other hand have blown hot and cold this season. Much of it has to do with the number of injuries that Roberto de Zerbi has had to deal with, meaning that they have been reduced to the barebones when it comes to options.
Spurs are not much better off in this department either. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Manor Solomon are all injured. With the exception of the Argentinian, the other names on this list have been missing for quite some time now.
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:
December 28, 2023, 7:30pm UK time
TEAM NEWS
Both teams can literally have a face-off on whose injury list is longer. Roberto de Zerbi will be without the services of Ansu Fati, Solly March, Perves Estupinian, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso, Joel Veltman and Kaoru Mitoma. Adam Webster is also expected to miss out.
Spurs have their own injury list to contend with. Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur have all been ruled out for quite some time now. Cristian Romero is the latest entrant to the list. Yves Bissouma will continue to miss out following his suspension.
MATCH ANALYSIS
Brighton & Hove Albion:
As always, Brighton will start in a 4-2-3-1 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. The lack of key players has made it difficult for them to play this system though.
Bart Verbruggen is expected to start in goal, although it could very easily also be Jason Steele. Jack Hinshelwood and Igor Julio are likely to be the fullback pairing on the day. The ever-present Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke would round off the defence.
Carlos Baleba and Billy Gilmour are likely to be the double pivot. Ahead of them, in the three would likely be Joao Pedro, Pascal Gross and Simon Adingra. Facundo Buonanotte could also be a candidate to start on the right.
The #9 is likely to be a tossup between Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck, with the latter likely to get the nod.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Ange Postecoglou would set his team-up in the same 4-2-3-1, effectively cancelling out the formations. Guglielmo Vicario is definitely going to take his place in between the sticks.
In the absence of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Ange might start Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as his centre-back pairing on the night. It is definitely not a pair that inspires much confidence. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie as the fullbacks though makes a lot of sense.
In midfield, Pape Matar Sarr is a definite starter. To partner him, Ange could choose between Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso. Don’t be surprised if he chooses to deploy the Argentinian against Brighton.
The front-line is kind of sorted with Son Heung-min starting on the left, Brennan Johnson on the right and Dejan Kulusevski as a the #10 playing behind a natural striker in Richarlison.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Brighton & Hove Albion: (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Jack Hinshelwood, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Igor Julio; Billy Gilmour, Carlos Baleba; Simon Adingra, Pascal Gross, Joao Pedro; Danny Welbeck.
Tottenham Hotspur: (4-2-3-1): Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie; Giovani Lo Celso, Pape Matar Sarr; Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson; Rihcarlison.
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