Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
Two sides who are looking to make a return to winning ways on Boxing Day, Tottenham will welcome Brighton to North London on Thursday lunchtime.
Tottenham
Starting with the hosts, after putting in an incredibly lackluster display and watching Chelsea snatch a deserved 2-0 win in North Lonon over the weekend, new Spurs boss Jose Mourinho saw his side miss out on a golden opportunity to climb into the top-four. Now once again sat six points adrift of that lucrative fourth spot, ‘The Special One’ has seen his side begin to show some signs of a struggle since being appointed last month. Despite leaving it late to snatch what was a flattering 2-1 win at Molineux a fortnight ago, Tottenham have lost three of their last five matches across all competitions and have continued to show some issues at the back. Recording just a single clean sheet in any of their eight matchups under Mourinho, fans in North London will also be looking for Harry Kane to find some much-needed stability in the final third. The England skipper has failed to find the net in four of his last five matchups and a return to form for the 26-year-old is vital to any top-four charge Spurs are planning.
Team News
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min begins a three-game ban after the club failed with an appeal against the red card he received in Sunday’s defeat by Chelsea.
Erik Lamela, Hugo Lloris and Ben Davies remain out.
Brighton
As for the visitors, while Brighton’s new style of play under Graham Potter may have impressed many across the Premier League, the South Coast outfit are having trouble seeing off fixtures. Hit with a 1-0 defeat at home against Sheffield United over the weekend and lucky to have just shipped a single strike, the former Swansea boss has seen his new side record just a single victory in any of their previous seven appearances, a run that stems back to the 2nd of November. Although the Seagulls might hold a five-point buffer over the drop zone when opening Christmas Day, they have continued to show some worrying inconsistencies on the road. Aside from picking up a 2-1 win away at a struggling Arsenal earlier in the month, that is Brighton’s only Premier League victory away from the Amex since opening the new campaign. However, there is no doubt that Thursday’s traveling fans will be excited by their previous meeting against the top-four hopefuls. When the two sides faced off back in October, Brighton landed a convincing 3-0 win over Mauricio Pochettino’s outfit.
Team News
Brighton have no new injury concerns although the squad is expected to be rotated with this the first of two games in three days.
Winger Jose Izquierdo is continuing his recovery from a knee injury in his native Colombia.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides met back in October, Brighton picked up a 3-0 win at the Amex.
- Spurs have kept just one clean sheet in their opening eight matches under Jose Mourinho.
- Brighton have recorded just a single Premier League victory on the road since opening the 2019/2020 campaign.
- Each of Brighton’s last five matches away from the Amex have seen both teams find the net at full-time.
- Tottenham have recorded just one Premier League clean sheet in their last six matches on home soil.
Conclusion
While Tottenham may have put in a flat display against Chelsea last weekend, there is no doubt that Jose Mourinho will be looking at Thursday lunchtime as a real chance to bounce back and right a wrong for earlier in the season. However, with both defences continuing to show some worrying issues, along with Brighton managing to find the net in each of their last five matches away from the Amex, we’re backing a lively encounter at both ends on Boxing Day.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
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