Tottenham vs Brighton live: What time does it start, where can I watch it and what are the odds?
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham will hope to continue a good recent run of Wembley form as they host a mid-table Brighton tonight.
Preview
Spurs are unbeaten at home since their opening fixture at the stadium, a 2-1 loss to Chelsea, and have won five of their past six games under the famous arch.
While talks of the ‘Wembley hoodoo’ have largely been put to bed, Spurs’ recent form remains underwhelming, with reverses at Leicester and Arsenal as well as disappointing draws against West Brom and Watford. Mauricio Pochettino confirmed yesterday that Toby Alderweireld will be out until February, leaving Tottenham worryingly short in defence, and the Champions League draw rewarded Spurs’ impressive performance in the group stages with a tie against Italian champions Juventus, adding to their problems.
Barring Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama, who is unlikely to return before Christmas, Pochettino has a full-strength squad to pick from, and will likely rotate his team. Danny Rose and Serge Aurier will come in for Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies, while Moussa Sissoko is likely to start in the league for the first time this month.
Brighton have struggled in recent weeks after some positive October and November form, thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool last week and disappointing in defeat to Huddersfield on Saturday. Their record against the top six has been poor too this season, losing to Arsenal, Man City, Man United and Liverpool while scoring just one goal.
Gaetan Bong is available again after recovering from an injury, and meaning Brighton have an almost complete squad, only missing long-term absentee Steve Sidwell. Last season’s top scorer Anthony Knockaert and record signing José Izquierdo will both be pushing for selection on the flanks, while Bong may return for Markus Suttner at left-back.
What time does it start?
Tottenham vs Brighton is at 20:00 on Wednesday night.
Where can I watch it?
Highlights will be available on Match of the Day, at 22.45 on Wednesday on BBC1.
It’s a big game for…
Dele Alli. The youngster’s status as one of the great young hopes of English football always means that he is under pressure in a different way to many of his team-mates. Yet it is not an exaggeration to say that his place in the team should be under threat after his recent poor form. Three league goals in fifteen Premier League starts, including just one in his past twelve games, does not compare well with his tally of 18 in the league last season.
The 21-year-old has tended to drift out of games recently, and his tally of 518 passes in the league ranks behind seven of his team-mates, remarkably low for a No 10 playing almost every minute for Spurs this season. Alli must improve or the return of Erik Lamela will put his starting place at risk.
Best stat…
Harry Kane is within three goals of Alan Shearer’s record of 36 league goals in a calendar year, set in 1995. He will have four more games to try to beat the tally after tonight’s game.
Player to watch…
Shane Duffy. The Irishman has started every game on Brighton’s return to the Premier League, with Lewis Dunk playing every minute beside him. The two defenders form one of the best partnerships in the country, and Duffy’s total of 133 clearances this season is only bettered by Burnley’s James Tarkowski.
Duffy will have a challenge on his hands in the form of Harry Kane, but will hope to add to his and Brighton’s tally of five clean sheets so far this season.
Previous three meetings…
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0, League Cup, October 2014
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1, FA Cup, January 2005
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1, Division One, October 1983
Form guide…
Tottenham: LDLDW
Brighton: DLDLL
Odds…
Tottenham: 1/5
Brighton: 14/1
Draw: 5/1
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