Sussex

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

In contrast to Spurs, Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton sat top of the form table after winning five of their past six league games in their late surge towards the European places.

Naming an unchanged side after the Seagulls maintained their momentum at Burnley, Hurzeler was again forced to watch from the stands as he served the second of his two-match touchline ban.

Brighton were forced to remain patient for their opportunities but eventually found their rhythm during a frantic end to the first half.

Danny Welbeck twice went close to a breakthrough, but was unable to add a finishing touch when Micky Van de Ven deflected Jack Hinshelwood's header against his own post, before having a glancing header saved by Antonin Kinsky.

With a chance to go sixth set to pass them by, Ferdi Kadioglu appeared to have missed the chance to rescue a late point for the visitors when he shot into the side-netting.

But Georginio Rutter would make no mistake after Jan Paul van Hecke robbed Kevin Danso of possession inside the Spurs penalty area, the point keeping them within reach of sixth-placed Chelsea, who they face next on Tuesday night.

Brighton Manager Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to Sky Sports: "Not our best performance, but we showed belief through the whole game. We were there to win it, especially in the second half. We controlled, we dominated, we had so many chances.

"We looked good, we have to believe to win it. I have to say regarding the performance, we take the point. We are disappointed because we wanted more. We showed good character."

On opportunities in the game: "We had the big chance and we didn't score. They scored with a brilliant moment. We weren't always able to defend Xavi [Simons], we didn't always perform at the highest level, but we showed real character. Our subs made a huge difference when they came into the game, they had a big impact and that's positive.

"We are sticking together as a group. Today wasn't our best game, but we take the point. We are still on a good run."

On Europe hopes: "Of course we take the positives, but it's noise. There are still five big games to go, we just focus game to game."

Brighton goalscorer Georginio Rutter, speaking to Match of the Day: "I think we deserved a point. It's frustrating we conceded two goals, but we take the positives and one point is better than nothing."

"We have to stay together, we are a team. We have good spirit and stay together and I hope at the end we can have a good present because we think about Europe."

On wanting to play European football: "For every player it is good to play in a European competition. We have to take it game by game."

Did you know?

• Brighton and Hove Albion are unbeaten in their last four away games in the Premier League (W3 D1), only enjoying a longer unbeaten run on the road under Fabian Hurzeler once previously in the top-flight (5 in 2024 December to 2025 January).

• Georginio Rutter's equaliser was the 11th scored by a substitute for Brighton this season in the Premier League, with no side netting more goals from substitutes in the competition this term (Arsenal also 11).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Spurs' performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has made four changes after overseeing a 1-0 loss to Sunderland in his first game in charge.

For his first home match as Spurs boss, De Zerbi hands midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur his first start since undergoing surgery on his hamstring in January.

Kevin Danso replaces the injured Cristian Romero in defence, while Yves Bissouma and Xavi Simons also come in for Archie Gray and Richarlison.

Another huge boost for Spurs is the return of James Maddison to the squad for the first time this season, after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season.

Tottenham XI: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Gallagher, Bentancur, Kolo Muani, Solanke, Simons.

Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Palhinha, Richarlison, Maddison, Tel, Gray, Bergvall, Spence.

There are no changes for in-form Brighton.

Fabian Hurzeler's side have won five of their past six in the league as they make a late surge for European football, and the German names the same 11 that started in the 2-0 win over Burnley, with Danny Welbeck leading the line.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Ayari, Gross, Gomez, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Welbeck.

Subs: Steele, Igor, Rutter, Baleba, Kostoulas, Mitoma, De Cuyper, O'Riley, Veltman.

After Spurs lost to Sunderland in his first match in charge, Roberto de Zerbi said his players need a father figure, not a coach. He is trying to build their confidence but maybe that means he is not coaching them the way he wants to.

It's a bit of a head-scratcher, but then Tottenham's entire season has not made much sense. When you look at their team and their bench, they have got some incredible players.

Somehow, though, Spurs are still waiting for their first Premier League win of the year after playing 14 league games already in 2026. Looking at the table, they will need three wins, or at least two, from their final six games if they are going to climb out of the relegation zone and stay up.

They really should not be in this position but I am not sure they have got the stomach to get out of it now they are.

I just don't think they will get one of those wins against Brighton, who have come into a bit of form.

The Seagulls are on a run of three successive victories and have five wins in their past six games. I can see things going wrong for De Zerbi against his old club, so I am backing Brighton to nick the points here.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v Fulham (12:30)

• Leeds v Wolves (15:00) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Bournemouth (15:00)

• Tottenham v Brighton (17:30) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Chelsea v Man Utd (20:00)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Wolves" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Brighton", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Beleaguered Tottenham are without a league win in 2026, so can Roberto de Zerbi inspire them to victory in his first home match in charge against his former side Brighton on Saturday (17:30 BST)? BBC Sport looks at the key themes around the fixture.

Spurs close to unwanted home record

If their situation wasn't already serious enough, a morale-sapping weekend of results brought into even sharper focus just how much trouble Tottenham are in.

West Ham's crushing victory over Wolves, Nottingham Forest's battling point against Aston Villa and Leeds United's historic triumph at Old Trafford were sandwiched by a toothless defeat for Spurs at Sunderland in which they also lost captain Cristian Romero for the season.

There were only limited signs of a "new manager bounce" for Roberto de Zerbi in his first match in charge. He's since had another week on the training ground to try to instil some belief in his fragile squad. "I can be a big brother, father, they don't need a coach," he said of his plans to lift spirits.

The only one of Spurs' last 13 managers to lose their opening home game was his much-maligned predecessor Igor Tudor. Their home form remains an ongoing issue and if they are beaten again on Saturday, the Lilywhites will equal their club record of five successive home league losses set in February 1994.

So dismal have their performances been in front of their own fans that their tally of 10 home points is just one more than Brighton have picked up in their last three league matches alone.

Overall, Tottenham's winless streak in the league of 14 matches - dating back to 28 December - is just two shy of the longest such run in their history of 16 set between December 1934 and April 1935.

They also remain one of only two top-flight sides yet to win a match after failing behind along with Wolves.

Seagulls having flying end to season

In yet further bad news for Spurs and De Zerbi, his former side Brighton proudly sit on top of the Premier League form table having won five of their last six matches.

It is as many victories at they had managed in their previous 20 top-flight league games combined and has quelled rumours that Fabian Hurzeler's job was under threat.

Another three points would give them a fourth away win on the spin for the very first time in the top flight. The last time they conceded a goal on the road was on 11 February.

Their resurgence after such a tricky winter has firmly propelled them back into the mix for European football and they are only six points adrift of a Champions League place.

They have also enjoyed an excellent recent record against Tottenham, having lost just one of their last five against the north Londoners, scoring 14 goals in those matches, including four at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the final game of last season.

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Tottenham at the Totteham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler said James Milner is still out but is "getting close" to a return. There was nothing else to report on team news.

• The Brighton boss says his predecessor Roberto De Zerbi is due recognition for his achievements with the Seagulls but maintains his full focus is on winning the game: "I think he deserves the praise because he had a huge impact here on this club. He had great achievements with the players. He reached Europe for the first time so he deserves this praise. On the other side, when the whistle starts, it's a game between Brighton and Tottenham and our approach is the same. We are there to achieve something, we are there to win this game. We are there to keep showing the right habits and therefore that's our main focus."

• Hurzeler said "form doesn't win you games" and that they have a responsibility to "show the right habits".

• On Albion's upturn in form, he added: "Before we had this run now, our performances weren't bad, the only difference was that we weren't able to get the results. It is not a surprise for us." He also said the supporters are key and that they can really compete with that "togetherness".

• Hurzeler was asked whether he is surprised at the situation Spurs find themselves in: "I think everyone is a little bit surprised but on the other hand it's very important to understand how ruthless the Premier League can be, how tight the Premier League is. You need to be at your highest level every weekend. We experienced, with a bad run this season, if you're not doing the right behaviour daily then you have no chance at the weekend."

• Finally on Saturday's game, the Brighton boss said: "Our goal is that we make our supporters loud, proud and therefore we need to have our style of play. We need to go there and play intense football, don't give them any hope and be very mature in our approach."

Listen to commentary of Tottenham v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Live from 17:30 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Brighton? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts