Tottenham returns to the field on Thursday evening as Ange Postecoglou’s squad heads down to face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
The upcoming Premier League fixture presents an opportunity for Spurs to secure a fourth consecutive victory and maintain their position within the top four, as currently fifth-placed Manchester City threatens to pull away from the rest of the table. After confidently sweeping aside Newcastle and displaying resilience in their win against Everton, Tottenham faces the challenge of taking on a Brighton side that has showcased a mix of performances.
We reached out to our Tottenham Hotspur reporters, Alasdair Gold and Rob Guest, to forecast the lineup they believe Postecoglou will choose.
The availability of Cristian Romero remains uncertain due to a tight hamstring, but the hope is that after a five-day period, precautionary measures have ensured his readiness to face Brighton. Destiny Udogie is expected to provide improved balance to the team’s attacks upon his return from suspension, likely reclaiming the left-back position from Emerson Royal, who played defensively well in the previous fixture.
In the midfield, the decision rests on whether to stick with the youthful Oliver Skipp or introduce the fresh legs and experience of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Despite a positive showing from Giovani Lo Celso as a substitute, the strong performances of the front three—Brennan Johnson, Richarlison, and Son Heung-min—make it challenging for him to displace others at the moment.
Gold’s Predicted Lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Skipp, Kulusevski; Johnson, Richarlison, Son
Postecoglou is anticipated to hope for Cristian Romero’s fitness for the matchup against Brighton after his halftime substitution in the win over Everton. If Romero is unable to play, Emerson Royal may secure the spot, possibly displacing Eric Dier.
Due to a strong performance last Saturday, Emerson is likely to retain his place in the team, albeit not in the left-back position with Destiny Udogie’s return. In the midfield, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is envisaged to replace Oliver Skipp in the number six role.
With Dejan Kulusevski expected to feature in the midfield three, the front three could comprise Brennan Johnson, Richarlison, and Son Heung-min.
Guest’s Predicted Lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Hojbjerg, Kulusevski; Johnson, Richarlison, Son
