London Evening Standard

Former Arsenal legend Lauren has admitted that he wants Tottenham to stay in the Premier League next term.

Spurs are in serious danger of a shock relegation from the top flight, and currently sit in the drop zone.

Roberto De Zerbi has recently taken over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the principle aim of the campaign to keep the north Londoners afloat.

That could prove a tricky task, with Spurs winless in the league since December last year. Last time out, they surrendered a 2-1 lead late on as Brighton salvaged a 2-2 draw.

“As an Arsenal fan there is a game we want to see every single season, and that is the north London derby against Tottenham,” Lauren said.

“I don’t think Tottenham going down would be good news for Arsenal fans or the Premier League in general.

“It’s good to play them and beat them and I want that to continue. Tottenham relegation would be a big shock to the Premier League but preferably, I would see them stay up and we take some points off them again next season.”

Arsenal may have bigger fish to fry than worrying about what their north London rivals are doing, with the Gunners almost reeled in by Manchester City at the other end of the Premier League table.

Mikel Arteta’s men are three points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side, but City have a game in hand on the Gunners and sliced their rivals’ lead on Sunday with a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.

While pressure will build on Arteta should Arsenal not win the title, Lauren believes that it would be ludicrous to get rid of the Spaniard.

“All the talk of Arteta being at risk and Arsenal winning no trophies needs to stop,” the ex-defender said.

“I don’t think that way, because I think Arsenal are going to win the Premier League. I’m positive, I am confident. Losing against Manchester City has not ended the race for the title.

Clouds beginning to part as Spurs welcome fresh faces back into contention

Sidelined: Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus

Getty / London Standard

Arthur Ferridge

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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Tottenham fell narrowly short of a crucial win over Brighton on Saturday, but had some positive injury news to brighten the mood.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side remain in the relegation zone after sharing the points with the Seagulls, but the Italian will surely take comfort in a vastly improved performance.

That was down in no small part to an assured midfield display from Rodrigo Bentancur, who played for the first time since suffering a serious hamstring injury in January.

There was also room in the matchday squad for James Maddison, who was named to the bench for the first time this season after suffering a ruptured ACL last summer.

His presence will be a huge boost for Spurs as they face another relegation six-pointer this weekend, visiting Wolves.

With that in mind, here is all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates...

Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero is out for the season after suffering a serious knee injury against Sunderland last weekend.

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He collided with Antonin Kinsky and was forced off, with De Zerbi later confirming he would not return this campaign.

“Romero, I’m really sorry for him, for his injury. Romero, first of all, loves Tottenham, and the people have to know he is suffering for this injury,” De Zerbi said on Friday.

“He is suffering because he can’t play anymore for us this season, but he is a great captain for us, for Tottenham.”

As rumours claiming Romero may leave the club this summer gather pace, there is every chance he has already played his last match in a Tottenham shirt.

Potential return date: August 2026

Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus was closing in on a return to Premier League action but suffered a cruel setback earlier this month which could require a further surgery.

The Ghanaian was first injured while facing Sunderland in January and had returned to training ahead of the reverse fixture, but is now facing a much longer spell out.

A club statement read: “We can confirm that Mohammed Kudus has suffered a setback in his return from injury.

“The Ghana international forward suffered a significant quad injury during our Premier League fixture against Sunderland in January.

“He had returned to team training during the past week, however will now require further specialist review and, potentially, surgery.

“We’re all with you, Mo.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Mohammed Kudus is out for the season

Getty

Guglielmo Vicario

Tottenham confirmed plans for Guglielmo Vicario to undergo hernia surgery ahead of the March international break, and he will soon be back in the side.

The procedure was timed so as to disrupt the Italian’s campaign as little as possible, but he has now missed two Premier League matches.

De Zerbi has described him as an ‘important character’ and will hope to welcome him back into contention next week’s trip to Wolverhampton.

Antonin Kinsky has been starting between the sticks in his absence.

Potential return date: April 25 vs Wolves (A)

Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski is slowly approaching match fitness and hopes to return to the pitch this season.

He is yet to play a competitive minute in this campaign after undergoing surgery on a patella injury last season. Ange Postecoglou described the injury as “just a knock” at the time.

But his recovery has not gone at all to plan and he has suffered a variety of setbacks.

He underwent a fresh surgery in February, which he himself dubbed a “small intervention.”

Dejan Kulusevski hopes to be fit in time for the World Cup despite not playing a minute of competitive football this season

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But he has set his sights on representing Sweden at this summer’s World Cup, insisting he has ‘never felt better’.

“I understand that people were worried [by the limping], but it was really for the wrong reason," he said. "It was really positive that I did this little procedure and that we were able to find the problem.

"Now everything should be good. It’s just a matter of slowly and surely coming back. I can see the light. It feels better now.

"I really have a positive feeling about [the] World Cup in two or three months. This is how the book and the chapter will end. I’m convinced of that … I'm very confident with where I am today."

Potential return date: May

James Maddison

James Maddison’s chances of playing again for Tottenham this season have been boosted significantly after he made the matchday squad to face Brighton, but did not feature.

He tore his ACL during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle and has been pictured in training, but still seems to be a while away from match fitness.

Speaking last week, De Zerbi said he was unsure whether Maddisson would play again this season. I don't want to push too much, because we lost Kudus in this way.”

He seems very likely to play a role in the run-in, though, after being named on the team-sheet for the first time this season.

Potential return date: April 25 vs Wolves (A)

James Maddison was all smiles after being named to the matchday squad as Spurs faced Brighton

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Wilson Odobert

Wilson Odobert saw his campaign cut short when he suffered an ACL rupture in while facing Newcastle in February.

He underwent surgery and is now undergoing rehabilitation at Hotspur Way.

Potential return date: Autumn 2026

Ben Davies

Ben Davies is out of contract this summer and it seems he has already played his last match for Tottenham.

Potential return date: Unknown

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Sport | Football

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Italian’s improvements immeasurable despite sharing points with Brighton

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham were left crestfallen after Georginio Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser denied them a crucial three points in their bid for Premier League survival.

Xavi Simons looked to have struck the decisive goal to earn Spurs’ first league win of the calendar year and steer them out of the relegation zone.

Instead, it was Rutter and Brighton who had the last laugh as Spurs’ winless run in the league stretched to 15 games.

Spurs show huge improvement in galling draw

Spurs looked to be on their way to a crucial three points when Simons struck with just over 10 minutes to play to deliver a cathartic moment in a season so short of inspiration.

Nothing is ever straightforward with this club, though, and Rutter’s equaliser was a sucker punch that Spurs simply had no answers to as they sank to the ground in despair.

A draw is not a particularly useful result for Spurs, who remain in the relegation zone, but regardless, they can take great encouragement from a performance that had all the hallmarks of their spirited manager.

Georginio Rutter broke Tottenham hearts with his last-gasp equaliser

PA

De Zerbi has made a point of getting around his players on the training ground, holding one-to-one conversations in a bid to restore belief.

While Spurs will continue waiting for their first league win of the year, De Zerbi’s energy and confidence streamed through his side’s performance.

Heading into the final five games of the season, Spurs must take the positives from tonight’s performance, which was agressive and decisive in vital moments.

While their concentration let them down, they will know how close they came to getting three points.

James Maddison makes long-awaited return

De Zerbi downplayed James Maddison’s chances of returning to the pitch this season in his pre-match press conference.

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But in a matchday squad full of surprises, Maddison’s inclusion on the bench for the first time this season was easily the biggest shock of them all on an afternoon where his replacement took centre stage.

The English midfielder has been out since August, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Spurs’ pre-season friendly with Newcastle United in South Korea.

All smiles: James Maddison is back in the fold for Tottenham

Getty

It has been a long road to recovery for Maddison, but he has been training with the first team for a while and heading into the final five games of the season, it seems he will have a role to play.

Maddison’s return is not only a major boost for a Spurs side that has lacked a creative outlet this term, but his influence in and around the dressing room is invaluable as De Zerbi looks for leaders in the final weeks of the season.

He may not have got on the pitch, instead heading down the tunnel to watch the closing stages, but he was back on the field after the full-time whistle to console his team-mates.

His return is the sort of pick-me-up Spurs need as they try to regroup after another difficult result.

Xavi Simons denied magic moment

It seems remarkable that it has taken this long for a Tottenham manager to trust Xavi Simons.

Spurs’ lack of a creative identity has been perhaps the most glaring issue in a side riddled with problems, so to bring in Simons for his first start since the beginning of March felt like a no-brainer.

Xavi Simons made little attempt to hide his frustration at full-time

PA

The Dutchman was quiet in the opening stages, but exploded into the game right before the half-time, crafting the opening goal with a deft cross for the onrushing Porro before striking the post minutes later.

Playing off the left rather than through the middle, Simons relished the responsibility, and his strike with just over 10 minutes looked to have helped guide Spurs to their first league win in 111 days.

A strike of that quality, under such pressure, ought to have been the winning moment, but alas, Spurs remain in the bottom three, even if they can take great encouragement from their performance.

De Zerbi has always operated with a No10 at the heart of his system, and Simons stepped up to prove he could be the man to help steer Spurs to safety.

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Roberto De Zerbi believes Tottenham are capable of winning each of their five remaining Premier League games despite falling to a stoppage-time equaliser at home to Brighton.

Spurs remain without a league win this calendar year after Georginio Rutter struck in the 95th minute to secure Brighton a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

De Zerbi has taken one point from his first two games in charge to leave Spurs floundering in the relegation zone, but the Italian insisted there were positives to take on a difficult evening.

“Brighton is a very good team. In this moment, they are playing very well. But I think we deserve to win the game, especially if you consider we conceded a goal in extra time when losing one ball in our possession,” said De Zerbi post-match.

“But anyway, I'm very proud for the performance of my players. I'm very proud because they gave all of them their best, with the right mentality, with the right blood, with the right character.

“We played well with the ball. We played maybe better in the first half without the ball because in the second half we suffered too much with the ball possession.”

Spurs have five games left to save their season, with 17th-place West Ham able to move four points clear of the drop with a win over Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

De Zerbi, though, is convinced that Spurs can win all of their remaining games after a spirited performance.

“We have another five games. It is tough. Every one of us knows it is a tough moment, it is a difficult situation, but we have another five games and 15 points,” De Zerbi continued.

“This team is able to win five games in a row. Now it is difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players and analyse the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row.

“Not to be arrogant because I am not arrogant, especially now, but we have the quality enough to fight and win games in a row.”

Sport | Football

Tottenham player ratings vs Brighton: Xavi Simons stars as Kevin Danso makes fatal error

Dutchman’s wonderstrike would have delivered win if not for defensive calamity

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Georginio Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser denied Tottenham a precious three points in their bid for Premier League survival as the Seagulls twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pedro Porro opened the scoring in the 39th minute as he headed home from a deft Xavi Simons cross before Kaoru Mitoma equalised on the stroke of half-time with a side-footed volley into the roof of the net.

Xavi Simons thought he had won it for Spurs with a glorious right-footed effort from outside the box, but Rutter smashed home in the 95th minute to leave Roberto De Zerbi’s side in the relegation zone.

Sam Tabuteau was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to rate the Spurs players…

Antonin Kinsky 7

Starting successive games for the first time this season, he looked comfortable with the ball at his feet and commanded his area well. Saved himself from gifting Brighton the lead as he cleared under pressure late in the second-half.

Pedro Porro 7

Opened the scoring with a brave header before he was denied by Verbruggen moments later. A constant threat down the right-hand side and covered in behind well. Let his concentration slip for Brighton’s equaliser.

Micky van de Ven 7

Made a vital interception to deflect Hinshelwood’s knockdown onto the post and captained the side well on the whole. Will be incredibly frustrated not to have held on for three points.

Kevin Danso 5

Looked assured in place of Romero, making a brave tackle to deny Welbeck and putting his body on the line. Looked distraught after losing the ball in his own box before Rutter’s late leveller.

Destiny Udogie 7

Helped stretch the play down the left flank, and Minteh was lucky not to bring him down inside the area after he got goalside of the Brighton winger.

Rodrigo Bentancur 7

Did not hold back on his first appearance back after a serious hamstring injury. Roamed around the pitch, pinching possession and driving Spurs forward. Provided the energy they desperately lacked against Sunderland last weekend before being replaced by Palhinha in the 67th minute.

Conor Gallagher 5

Starting higher up the pitch, he led the press well at times and nearly forced Verbruggen into a mistake by closing him down near his goal line. Always felt like he was stretching to keep hold of the ball, especially in the final third.

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Yves Bissouma 5

Struggled with the ball under pressure, squandering possession on a number of occasions before being replaced by Gray just before the hour mark.

Xavi Simons 9

Did not deserve to have his moment cruelly taken away from him. Exploded into the game right before half-time, assisting Porro’s opener before striking what he thought was the winner with a wonderful right-footed effort. Constantly calling for the ball, he relished the responsibility in arguably the biggest game in Spurs’ recent history.

Dominic Solanke 5

Marshalled well by Van Hecke as he struggled to compete aerially with the Brighton defender. Fared slightly better when the ball was played into feet, but overall a quiet game from the England striker.

Randal Kolo Muani 5

Another ineffectual display from the Frenchman, who was a peripheral figure despite taking the most touches in the opposition box before his substitution. Pressed well early on, but quickly drifted.

Subs:

Mathys Tel 6

Positive as always, off the bench, as he looked to take his man on at every opportunity.

Archie Gray 6

Came into a pressurised atmosphere and took things in his stride as De Zerbi’s subs changed the impetus for Spurs. Had a late chance saved by Verbruggen.

Joao Palhinha 6

Saw his deflected effort almost wrong-foot Verbruggen. Battled well, but for little reward in the end.

Djed Spence 6

Could not help Spurs hold on as Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser stole a point for Brighton.

Lucas Bergvall 7

Nicked the ball in the lead-up to Simons’ winner. Provided energy and bite to give Spurs a second wind late on.

Unused subs: Austin, Dragusin, Richarlison, Maddison

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James Maddison is in Tottenham’s matchday squad today for the first time this season.

The Englishman tore his ACL in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle and was expected to miss most if not all of this campaign, but has been named to the bench as Brighton visit north London.

It had been hoped that Vicario would return to fitness this week, but he was absent from training as De Zerbi confirmed that he would not be available for the visit of Brighton.

"Vicario, no (he is not fit). Vicario is another top guy. I'm looking forward to working with him. Anyway, [Antonin] Kinsky played very well in Sunderland,” De Zerbi said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“But Vicario is another important player for us. Big experience, big character, personality. And we are waiting for him.”

De Zerbi has quickly had to get to grips with Spurs’ spiralling injury list, but he has been boosted by the return of Rodrigo Bentancur from a hamstring injury.

Bentancur has been out since January after undergoing surgery, but starts this afternoon less than a week after returning to training.

The new Spurs boss deployed Conor Gallagher, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to little effect at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland dominated before taking the lead in the 61st minute through Nordi Mukiele’s deflected strike.

With De Zerbi’s midfield combination failing to have the desired impact, Bentancur could be thrust straight back into the starting lineup, while calls for Xavi Simons to start have only grown this week.

Randal Kolo Muani is back in the side after a tricky trip to Sunderland, with Simons also restored.

Spurs are in must-win territory now, with just six games to go and two points separating them from 17th-place West Ham.

They face an in-form Brighton side looking for their first league win of the calendar year as they look to move out of the relegation zone.

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Spurs in must-win territory as they desperately bid to escape relegation zone

Arthur Ferridge

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham host Brighton today as they frantically try to halt their disastrous descent towards relegation from the Premier League.

For the first time this season, Spurs head into a new matchweek sitting in the bottom three after the newly-appointed Roberto De Zerbi lost his first match in charge at Sunderland.

Tottenham are now two points adrift of 17th-place West Ham, and will require nothing less than a win here if they are to quell fans’ increasingly rational fears of going down for the first time since 1977.

But they will have their work cut out for them as they face the Premier League’s form side, Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls.

Brighton have won five of their last six league fixtures and, as a result, can dream of finishing this campaign in the European places provided they keep their form up.

They will be reasonably confident of taking three points away from north London, though, with Spurs’ ever-accelerating downward spiral leaving them still winless in the Premier League in 2026.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Tottenham vs Brighton is scheduled for a 5.30pm BST kick-off today on Saturday April 18, 2026.

The match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.

Where to watch Tottenham vs Brighton

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage starting at 5pm BST.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau at the ground.

Tottenham vs Brighton team news

Tottenham’s grim form has not been helped by a sustained injury crisis, with captain Cristian Romero set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury sustained during a collision with Antonin Kinsky at the Stadium of Light.

Elsewhere, Guglielmo Vicario is not yet ready to return in goal following hernia surgery, while Mohammed Kudus is out after suffering a setback in his recovery from a quad injury.

Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined along with James Maddison, Wilson Odobert and Ben Davies.

Key blow: Tottenham captain Cristian Romero will not play again this season

Getty Images

There has been a rare shred of positive injury news for Spurs, though, with Rodrigo Bentancur returning to training after hamstring surgery.

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Brighton, meanwhile, cannot call upon Stefanos Tzimas or Adam Webster due to knee ligament injuries, with both set to miss the end of the season.

Lewis Dunk is suspended for this match, while James Milner will play no part through injury.

Tottenham vs Brighton prediction

While Spurs had flashes of threat against Sunderland, they did not look like scoring at any point and came away with another dismal defeat, their seventh in eight league matches.

While De Zerbi has now had another week on the training pitch to get his side on song, he has a huge task at hand to right this severely listing ship.

Coming up against the club he once managed, the Italian will be desperate for three points, but it remains to be seen whether five days of training will be enough to turn this abject Spurs side around.

With Brighton very much on form, we expect another tough afternoon for Spurs.

Brighton to win, 2-0.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Spurs have twice as many wins against Brighton as they do losses, but the reverse of this fixture ended in a rare and dramatic draw.

Tottenham trailed 2-0 after half an hour, but their comeback was completed at the death after Jan Paul van Hecke scored an own goal.

Tottenham wins: 18

Brighton wins: 9

Draws: 5

Tottenham vs Brighton match odds

Tottenham to win: 2/1

Brighton to win: 6/5

Draw: 29/10

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

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When deciding where to take his players for a spot of team bonding this week, Roberto De Zerbi had only to look at the description on the website of the lavish Mayfair restaurant, Bacchanalia, for inspiration.

A Greek-Mediterranean spot, set in the heart of one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, it purports to offer “imagination on a grand and glorious scale” while providing “abundant pleasure” for its high-paying customers.

Tottenham’s supporters can certainly say they pay enough - they have the second-most-expensive season ticket in the Premier League - but in watching their team slide towards relegation, there is nothing grand or glorious about where this club is seemingly headed, and De Zerbi knows things need to change.

“There are a lot of players, and we have to build and find in these last weeks the best relationship we can find, and I want to see on the pitch players helping their team-mates and pushing everybody for one target and to achieve our big, big target for us.

With six games to go, Spurs are two points from safety and in desperate need of a first league win in four months as they host Brighton this weekend.

A reunion with his former club is the last thing De Zerbi needed, with Brighton in fine form after winning five of their last six games, but he remains optimistic about Spurs’ chances of staying up.

“I believe in the people. I believe in the human relationship. I believe in the spirit. I believe in the soul of the players. Before we speak about tactical dispositions, style of play, defensive phase, with the ball, without the ball, set-pieces.

After losing to Sunderland in his first game in charge last weekend, De Zerbi has been clear that his job from now until the end of the season is to work on his players’ mentality.

“To make them aware not only of what they stand to lose, but also what they still have to give after slipping into the relegation zone for the first time this season.

The absence of captain Cristian Romero, ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, is another huge blow for the north London club in a season that is beginning to feel fated.

De Zerbi’s confidence, though, remains unwavering, and he is determined to get his squad to fight for each other in the final weeks of the season.

“What I can ask is for them to be closer on the pitch, to consider their teammates likes a brother on the pitch. If you consider your teammate like a brother, you go to help him. If he is wronged, you hug him, and you kiss him, and we need this in this moment, for sure.”

A disjointed performance against Sunderland has not, however, quelled any suggestions that Spurs are now favourites for the drop, and De Zerbi is honest enough to admit that time is not on his side right now.

“Every week is much better, but we have no time. We have no time to lose and no time to understand the problems we have this season.”

De Zerbi wants to transmit the confidence and belief he radiates into his players, and knows that one win could be the catalyst for Spurs’ survival bid.

The problem is that while these mental roadblocks could be hurdled over the course of De Zerbi’s five-year deal, Spurs have just six games to save their season.

A little over a fortnight since taking the reins, De Zerbi is in must-win territory as he looks to change the fortunes of a club whose slide towards the Championship feels more inevitable by the week.