Tottenham will be desperate to get its first Premier League win of 2026 when they host Brighton and Hove Albion.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to welcome Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening, as Roberto De Zerbi reunites with his old club.
Spurs have dropped to 18th in the table and are now favourites to go down, given the form they are in as compared to their relegation rivals West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. The fans have been livid with how this year has panned out so far, and they just want to see three points on Saturday, no matter what.
That’s going to be too difficult, though, as Brighton are in excellent form in the Premier League at the moment, with five wins from their last six. The Seagulls are heading to North London on the back of a convincing 2-0 win over Burnley. They are clear favourites on paper ahead of the crucial fixture for fairly logical reasons.
Roberto De Zerbi explains the importance of one victory for Tottenham
Tottenham are the only side not to have won a Premier League game in 2026. They are on a 14-game winless run, which is the second longest in the football club’s history, enough to suggest the mood and confidence levels of the squad. De Zerbi must be hoping to secure his first victory in front of his home support after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sunderland last time out.
When addressing the media in his press conference on Friday afternoon, the Italian tactician was asked whether his team requires one victory to shift the momentum in the battle against relegation. To which, he responded (h/t Football London):
“Yes, I think it’s crucial to win a game, not just for the table.
“But also, because we have to feel again, what is nice [feeling] to win a game and what that can do. I have no doubt about the quality of the players.”
Tottenham players need to lift themselves up
De Zerbi and his coaching staff can plot all the strategies to exploit Brighton’s weaknesses, but the onus will always be on the players to execute the plan at the end of the day. The morale of the Tottenham squad is on the floor right now, and only they can pick themselves up with hard work, quality, determination and resilience.
The Lilywhites did show some fighting spirit against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Eventually, they lost again, but the intent from the players was visible. It will be about rectifying those mistakes and making decisive moments count against Brighton.
Without skipper Cristian Romero, the likes of Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro must marshal the backline well and keep the visitors at bay. As Guglielmo Vicario is still not available, Antonin Kinsky will retain his spot in between the sticks. The young goalie has to produce a strong performance to keep a much-needed clean sheet. All in all, the entire Tottenham squad have to raise their levels if they intend to beat the Seagulls and break their duck in the league this year.