Brighton vs Tottenham Lineups, Preview, Prediction & Odds

Brighton vs Tottenham has been one of the most entertaining games in the Premier League over the last few years and are always games full of goals. We’ve had 4-2’s and 3-2’s over the recent years and both teams, even under different managers over the years, want to play with the ball, to create chances and be dominant attacking teams first and foremost. Brighton haven’t necessarily had the start to the season they wanted, with a draw to Fulham on opening day, which has been followed up by 2 losses to Bournemouth and Everton, and a win over Manchester City. Tottenham on the other hand are loving life under Thomas Frank, with 3 wins out of 4 over Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham. Spurs are playing a much smarter, defensively solid, effective brand of football this season and any fears they would repeat the terrible form that saw them finish 17th last season, have been eradicated. While the table might imply there is a gap between these two teams, Brighton have played well in their losses and will still be thinking about a push for European football next season and will look to bounce back from the loss to Bournemouth and are certainly capable of doing just that against anyone in the league. Tottenham will look to solidify that they are one of the best teams in the league, and while they might not truly be in a title race, they will be right there to finish in one of the Champions League spots this season.

• Can Spurs continue their great start under Thomas Frank?
• Can Brighton get themselves back into European contention?
• Whose star wingers show up on the day – Mitoma and Minteh or Kudus and Simons?

Find out all of that and much more in our preview of Brighton vs Tottenham. We have a match preview, live odds, predicted lineups, team and injury news, our score prediction and more for this GW5 matchup.

Match Details:

Fixture: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur

Stadium: Amex Stadium

Date: Saturday 20th September

Kick-off: 3:00pm BST

Premier League Head-to-Head Record:

As you can see by the last 5 Premier League results, this game tends to be full of goals. Brighton dominated Tottenham and Ange last season, scoring 7 and conceding 3, on route to 2 wins over Spurs. Hurzeler had Ange’s number, but with Thomas Frank at the helm for Tottenham they are a very different prospect this season and this game should be much tighter and Spurs won’t concede 3 or 4. Overall Brighton have had the better of this matchup over recent years with 3 wins. Spurs have 2 wins in the last 5, meaning there have been no draws. Brighton’s wins were bigger margins of victory and Brighton have scored 13 in the last 5 games vs Spurs, so can Thomas Frank turn the momentum of this fixture over the past few years around? We will find out this weekend!

Brighton Tottenham Last 5 Premier League Results

25/05/25 - Tottenham 1-4 Brighton

06/10/24 - Brighton 3-2 Tottenham

10/02/24 - Tottenham 2-1 Brighton

28/12/23 - Brighton 4-2 Tottenham

08/04/23 - Tottenham 2-1 Brighton

Brighton Overview and Form:

Brighton’s start has been inconsistent and fairly disappointing given the strength of their starting XI and their overall squad depth. A 1-1 draw with Brighton where they lead until the 97th minute and were the better team was disappointing but overall it was a good display, but they followed that up by losing 2-0 to Everton despite once again playing well. The Seagulls finally got their first win of the season over Manchester City despite City dominating the first half; Brighton adjusted, worked their way in to the game and completely turned things around in the second half and scored twice to snatch all 3 points at the Amex. But they couldn’t continue the momentum last weekend against a very good Bournemouth team, losing 2-1 at the Vitality. They have had tough games so far and things don’t get much easier over the coming few weeks, but Brighton have been putting in performances that will eventually result in wins.

From an attacking perspective Brighton have looked dangerous in every game and they sit 4th in the league in xG, and that is despite Welbeck and Rutter having been in and out of the team due to knocks. They have scored in every game besides Everton and even in that game Welbeck missed a tap-in. Their front-4 is one of the better ones in the league; Minteh and Mitoma are a dynamic winger duo that possess the ability to consistently beat their man 1-on-1, possess legitimate pace, are goal threats but also good chance creators from wide spaces and are a handful to deal with. Welbeck is such a solid veteran Premier League striker who does everything to a solid level, and Rutter has been in good form in his second season at Brighton.

Defensively is where the questions have always lay with Brighton, and they have never really found a back-5 the likes of Bournemouth’s last season. They have conceded in every game this season, 6 goals conceded in 4 games overall. Dunk is getting on in age and is actually holding their defence back at this point, he’s just not at the required level. Wieffer has performed very well at right-back so far and so having him return from a knock could prove huge. His dutch teammate Van Hecke is also a good player. De Cuyper hasn’t wowed so far and could miss this game. Overall they have always been a team that like to press high and defend reasonably well as a team, but they are not elite at anything. You can attack them aerially, in transition or in settled play, and that is what Spurs will look to do.

One thing in Brighton’s favour is they’re a versatile team that can win in many ways and in different game states, and the versatility of their players is unique. If they end up dominating in midfield and winning the physical battle, and establish control, Brighton can hurt Spurs in settled play. But if they do cede control of possession and defend in a deep or low block, they can do that and then try to spring Mitoma and Minteh in transition. Hurzeler ideally likes to control possession and establish territorial control and mount constant pressure on teams, as many sides do, but they won’t control an entire game against a team as good as Spurs and will have to defend well in spells and be efficient with their transition opportunities. If they can do that, they most certainly could win this game.

Tottenham Overview and Form:

Tottenham have had a great start to the Thomas Frank era, with 3 wins out of 4 including beating Man City and their only loss was a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth and was the only game they were outplayed in so far this season. Frank rectified his tactical and lineup mistakes for that game immediately, starting with a more attack minded midfield against West Ham last weekend and Spurs dealt with the Hammers easily, winning 0-3. Their eyes will be on a top 5 finish and Champions League qualification for next season.

From a defensive standpoint Tottenham look like a completely different side from last season. Their defensive details and principles are miles better than what they were under Ange, and their ability to be pragmatic, drop and defend in a mid block at times is so much more practical and effective than the constant high line during Ange’s tenure. Sarr and Palhinha in midfield provide the defence with the physical profiles they need in front of them, and you are seeing Romero, Van de Ven and Spence shine with better defensive structure and Porro’s defensive frailties are better hidden.

Going forward Spurs have looked sharp through 4 games. The Bournemouth game was the only game their chance creation was lacking, and that was immediately rectified against West Ham last weekend scoring 3, and that was without Richarlison. Kudus has added so much dynamism to Tottenham’s attack with his dribbling ability, his hold up play and chance creation. Simons coming in means Brennan Johnson, Odobert and Tel can become bit part players which is their ideal roles.

Tottenham and Frank will look to keep control of the ball and to press high when they win it to stop Brighton getting a foothold in the game, and hope they can get at Brighton’s shaky defence and get a lead. They have been so solid defensively that if they do get a lead they have a good shot at seeing out the game. Even if things don’t go to plan in terms of being the team on the front foot in possession, they are very capable of hurting Brighton on the counter with Simons and Kudus – two transition specialists. A win over Brighton would really establish Tottenham as likely top 5 finishers.

Match Betting Odds:

Brighton: 5/4

Draw: 27/10

Tottenham: 2/1

Both Teams to Score Odds:

Yes: 8/15

No: 11/8

Player to Score Odds:

Welbeck: 8/5

Richarlison: 7/4

 

 

Lineups will be updated throughout the week in live time as and when injury and lineup news is announced.

To head back to our main predicted lineups hub, click here.

Brighton and Hove Albion Predicted Lineup:

Brighton Predicted Lineup GW5

GK - Verbruggen

RB - Wieffer

CB - Van Hecke

CB - Dunk

LB - Kadioglu

CM - Baleba

CM - Ayari

AM - Rutter

RW - Minteh

LW - Mitoma

ST - Welbeck

Brighton Team & Injury News:

Fabian Hurzeler, speaking on Friday, revealed some key injury news on Hinshelwood, Wieffer and De Cuyper. Hurzeler revealed “Unfortunately we had two injuries in the game against Bournemouth. Jack [Hinshelwood] will be out for a long time. He has a ligament injury in his ankle, it happened in a very unlucky way, but that’s football… For Maxim [De Cuyper], it’s not so bad so he might be available. It’s not a big injury so hopefully he will be back soon. Mats Wieffer is back and available”.

The news on Hinshelwood was expected as we revealed earlier in the week. Wieffer being back was also anticipated which is big news for the Seagulls – he has been very good at right-back this season. He will start. De Cuyper sounds like he will be available but maybe not fit enough to start – I lean Kadioglu starting this one.

Rutter returned to the squad after an injury kept him out the previous week, and made a cameo off the bench. I think he now returns to the starting XI in GW4 replacing Welbeck. Rutter started as the striker in GW1. Especially as Hurzeler spoke about playing Bournemouth, stating They are a very difficult side to play against. There will be moments when we will suffer and will need to show resilience.” Rutter provides more running power and legs off the ball than Welbeck.

O’Riley who started the first 2 games has joined Marseille on loan. A strange one, given again, he started the first 2 games. Hurzeler speaking on the O’Riley, stated “We have a lot of competition in the midfield positions, and while we see Matt’s long-term future here with us, this gives him the potential of more game time”.

Brighton Players to Watch:

Wieffer: Should return from his injury for Spurs.

Hinshelwood: Set to be out for an extended period with potential ligament damage.

Baleba: Should return to the starting lineup.

Rutter: Will start in the 10 role.

Ayari: With Hinshelwood out injured, Ayari should partner Baleba.

Welbeck: Has now, after slowly ramping up from his return from a pre-season injury, taken his spot back in the starting lineup.

Tottenham Hotspur Predicted Lineup:

Tottenham Predicted Lineup GW5

GK - Vicario

RB - Porro

CB - Romero

CB - Van de Ven

LB - Spence

CM - Sarr

CM - Palhinha

CM - Bergvall

RW - Kudus

LW - Simons

ST - Richarlison

Tottenham Team & Injury News:

Thomas Frank, speaking to the media on Friday had few injury updates and little team news to divulge. The squad seems in a good place with the players who were fit last weekend, are still fit and available. Frank did speak specifically on Solanke, saying “The positive thing is that he is back on grass and has been for three or fours days. It is too early for Brighton and for Doncaster”. Solanke could return to the bench in GW6 and then becomes a potential starting option from GW8 onwards maybe, once he has some minutes in his legs. We will see how Richarlison vs Solanke vs Kolo Muani shakes out.

Simons started and played quite well in GW4. He will almost certainly start against Brighton this weekend.

Despite Udogie’s return to fitness I believe Spence is the starting left-back as things stand. He is an excellent full-back and has been in great form for over a year now. Udogie will likely have to displace Spence who got his first call up to the England squad.

As I believed going in to last weekends game, Frank found out against Bournemouth that the Palhinha and Bentancur double pivot with Sarr is a midfield whose strengths are out of possession rather than in possession, and Bergvall in for Bentancur fixes that. Frank did exactly that, going with a midfield 3 of Palhinha, Bergvall and Sarr. He will likely play the same midfield this weekend, given Bentancur started in Palhinha’s place against Villarreal midweek in the Champions League. Spurs midfield options are limited with Kulusevski and Maddison injured.

Tottenham Players to Watch:

Spence: Will start despite Udogie’s return

Bergvall: Instantly brought the balance to the midfield that was missing against Bournemouth, and played well. Should start.

Palhinha: Seems to be the first choice DM over Bentancur and will start. Got to rest in midweek as Bentancur started.

Richarlison: Did not start in GW4 but that was due to players away with the Brazilian NT returning to England late and not getting to train with their teams. Will start against Brighton.

Simons: Will start at LW.

Johnson: No longer a starter with Simons’ arrival.

Udogie: Spence has taken his starting spot.

Kolo Muani: Ramping up fitness, won’t start for a few weeks in all likelihood.

Brighton vs Tottenham Preview & Predicted Score:

Frank will stick with the 4-2-3-1 he has stuck with in the Premier League, with the PSG game being the only time he shifted formation. Brighton will also likely stick with their 4-2-3-1 system and this will just be best man (team) wins.

Brighton will be determined to not only put in a good performance but take all 3 points from this one and stabilise their season after a rocky start. Playing at home will be a big help in doing just that, and will not only look to pen Spurs in to their own half and play the game with the ball as that is where they are strongest, while simultaneously keeping keen eye on Simons and Baleba for any transition opportunities – they may task Baleba with really protecting the centre-backs by staying deep when in possession, as he can physically match those 2 wingers.

Spurs will look to essentially do the same, establish some control and limit Brighton’s transitions with Mitoma and Minteh, and lean on their talent advantage with a better forward line than Brighton’s defence and a CB pairing that can handle what Brighton throw at them. They also have more attacking depth than Brighton to throw on in the second half, although Brighton did turn it on against City in the second half.

I think this is a pretty even game, especially coaching wise although I lean towards Frank’s experience and also Tottenham’s talent advantage to at least earn them a point in this one. There will also be less goals in this than their previous meetings with Frank’s system and defensive principles being much better than Ange’s or Pochettino’s in those shootouts over recent years.

Score Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Tottenham