Tottenham v Brighton preview: Spurs bid for top-four return
Wednesday 13 December 2017 18:38, UK
Tottenham could return to the top four of the Premier League with a second win in five days when they host Brighton at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Mauricio Pochettino's side ended a run of four league games without a victory in emphatic style with a 5-1 demolition of Stoke on Saturday - Harry Kane's two goals taking him to 50 in 2017 in all competitions - to leave them two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
Despite their struggles at Wembley, Spurs are only two points worse off after 16 games compared to last season and have a Champions League last-16 tie against Juventus to look forward to in the new year.
Spurs have also done well in December and January under the Argentine, embarking on a nine-game winning streak last season that prompted their title challenge.
Former Spurs favourite Chris Hughton takes his Brighton team to north-west London desperate to arrest a poor run of form.
The south coast side have lost three of their last four, with the 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield at the weekend leaving them four points above the relegation zone.
Team news
Pochettino could hand a first start of the season to Erik Lamela after his long injury lay-off.
The Argentine has come off the bench in Spurs' last three Premier League games, having spent 13 months on the sidelines with a troublesome hip injury, and Pochettino told reporters Lamela "has a chance" from the off.
Victor Wanyama has returned to training following a knee injury but is not yet ready to be considered, while Davinson Sanchez is suspended and defender Toby Alderweireld remains absent with a hamstring injury that is now expected to keep him out until February.
Hughton has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to the national stadium.
Steve Sidwell remains the only absentee as he continues his rehabilitation from a back problem, with Brighton looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield three days ago.
Anthony Knockaert could return to the starting XI after he missed out against the Terriers.
Opta stats
Tottenham have won their last two games against Brighton in all competitions, winning 2-1 in the FA Cup third round in 2004-05, and 2-0 in a League Cup fourth-round tie in 2014-15.
Brighton won the last league meeting between these sides, 2-1 in a home match in April 1983.
Spurs have only lost one of their eight home meetings with the Seagulls in all competitions (W4 D3), 0-1 in a league match in October 1981.
Brighton have failed to win on their three previous trips to Wembley Stadium - losing the FA Cup final to Manchester United 4-0 in a replay after a 2-2 draw, and losing the 1991 second-tier play-off final 3-1 against Notts County.
Brighton have picked up just one point (W0 D1 L3) and scored just one goal in their last four Premier League matches.
Heung-Min Son has been involved in nine goals in his last 11 competitive appearances for Tottenham Hotspur (six goals, three assists).
Harry Kane has now scored 50 goals for Tottenham Hotspur and England in 2017, netting a goal every 81 minutes on average this year.
Harry Kane's Premier League goal tally in 2017 stands at 33 goals in 32 appearances - just three goals away from equalling Alan Shearer's record in the competition of 36 goals back in the calendar year of 1995.
Brighton could be the 27th different team that Harry Kane has played against in the Premier League. He's scored against 25 of the previous 26 he's played against and only failed to find the net against Cardiff City (two apps, no goals).
Merson's prediction
Tottenham looked really good the other day, they played some really good football. Brighton were absolutely awful at Huddersfield. This could be a huge score if Brighton play anything like they did at the weekend. This is a big race for the top four for Tottenham, and you don't want to be that team that misses out on the top four.
Paul predicts: 4-0 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
