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Tottenham Hotspur have struggled to pick up wins this calendar year, and now Roberto De Zerbi must be ruthless with his team selection as we head into the Premier League run-in. We have identified three players the Italian must drop against Brighton and Hove Albion.

With each passing gameweek, Tottenham Hotspur are running out of time to save their Premier League season as relegation to the Championship looms large.

In gameweek 32, Spurs were the only side in the bottom four who failed to pick up any points, with West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Leeds all managing to either win or draw their respective games.

Tottenham now find themselves in the relegation places, two points adrift of safety after West Ham leapfrogged them last week.

But matchweek 33 presents Spurs with another shot at redemption, with in-form Brighton making the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This encounter marks Roberto De Zerbi’s home debut, and he will be hoping to mark the occasion with a victory. Still, changes must be made to his starting XI, and we have highlighted three players we believe should be dropped on Saturday if Tottenham are to secure a result.

Tottenham should drop Conor Gallagher after midfield struggles

To kick things off, focus turns to Conor Gallagher, who started in the pivot role alongside Archie Gray against Sunderland.

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The former Chelsea man looked to put in a shift, but it was clear his efforts were not good enough against the Black Cats. Spurs needed more from him both on and off the ball, yet Gallagher struggled to deliver at the required level.

The midfielder failed to track Mukiele as he drove through Tottenham’s midfield before scoring the only goal of the game. His overall numbers underline that struggle.

From his stats, it is clear he struggled to win duels and could have offered more with his distribution into the final third. De Zerbi must find a solution ahead of Brighton.

Spurs must consider dropping Dominic Solanke after quiet Sunderland display

Dominic Solanke is another player who should be dropped this weekend after he struggled to make an impact in the final third for Tottenham against Sunderland.

The Spurs’ number nine barely had a kick of the ball and was a passenger for large spells, and with goals hard to come by in the last two games, such performances are not what the side needs at this stage of the season.

Speaking about his display, Jamie O’Hara was critical and even went as far as giving Solanke a match rating of zero.

The forward’s performance was dreadful last weekend, as he managed just 18 touches in 90 minutes, had just two shots, was dispossessed once and missed one big chance.

Tottenham should replace Randal Kolo Muani to add attacking threat

Another player who disappointed against Sunderland and should be dropped for the Brighton game is Randal Kolo Muani.

The Frenchman was De Zerbi’s solution to Mohammed Kudus’ injury, but he did not reach the level expected. While the two players are different, playing in that wide forward role demands creativity, direct running and a willingness to trouble defenders.

We did not see that from Muani, whose play was often too predictable while he struggled to complete take-ons.

Spurs’ attack looked blunt, largely due to a lack of creativity, and that is something De Zerbi must address against Brighton.

Replacing him with a natural winger such as Mathys Tel could improve that aspect of the attack, adding unpredictability and creativity.

Lucas Bergvall has come under fire after failing to impress Troy Deeney in his most recent display for Tottenham Hotspur.

Last season was tough for Tottenham Hotspur, at least on a domestic level, as the club slumped to its worst-ever Premier League finish.

However, Lucas Bergvall kept on delivering when times were difficult, showing life and enthusiasm when those around him did not. He even earned a clean sweep of Player of the Season awards for his troubles.

Unfortunately, the Swede has not been a regular starter this season. In fact, he has not completed a full 90-minute Premier League match since April last year.

Injury problems have definitely been a factor, but the 20-year-old fell down the pecking order when Thomas Frank was in charge.

Troy Deeney slams Lucas Bergvall for latest Tottenham performance

Ahead of the international break, Bergvall was able to complete one half of football and he made it to the hour-mark against Sunderland last Sunday.

However, the youngster failed to make a difference for Spurs. Worse still, he has been absolutely slammed by ex-Watford forward Troy Deeney.

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He said on Tiktok: “People were saying a new manager’s going to come in and instil confidence. What do you mean?

“I saw Bergvall. People have been telling me he’s good for the past two years, he was touch-tackling everything. Everything that came near him, he was touch-tackling.”

Bergvall has only just returned from injury

It seems fair to say that Bergvall has been unable to build consistency when he has been in and out of the first team.

Therefore, considering the fact that he recently recovered from a near-two-month ankle sprain, Deeney’s criticism seems over the top.

There are areas of Bergvall’s game which need to improve, but at his age, that is to be expected. Ultimately, what he needs right now is the chance to find his rhythm and get back in form.

Michael Own has revealed whether he expects Tottenham Hotspur to join Burnley and Wolves in the Championship this summer.

Spurs are now at major risk of being relegated from the English top-flight for the first time in nearly half a century.

It is a situation that was almost unthinkable until a few months ago, but a disastrous run of form since the turn of the year has put the Lilywhites on the verge of disaster.

Roberto De Zerbi is the man who is tasked with turning things around for the Lilywhites, but the Italian desperately needs a result this Saturday against his former club after losing his first game in charge at the Stadium of Light.

Michael Owen believes Tottenham will be relegated this season

Spurs are just two points adrift of West Ham in 17th, and there are still 18 points to play for this season, but Owen points out that the Hammers are the most in-form side of the teams in the relegation battle.

Following the latest round of results, the former Man United and Liverpool striker now believes that it will be Spurs who will join the Clarets and Wolves in the second tier.

Owen told Premier League Productions: “Well, what we’ve got is Leeds, they’ve got the best run-in. Wolves and Burnley at home, they’ll be alright.

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“Forest, they’re in decent enough form. Burnley at home [next up], that’s a winnable game. Of course, they at home on the last game of the season [vs Bournemouth], and they are three points ahead of Tottenham.

“West Ham are probably in the best form out of these four teams. They’re playing exceptionally well. They’ve got the momentum, and they’ve got a couple of games that they possibly should win as well. A couple of home games that they might have a chance at.

“I think before this weekend, I thought it was between Leeds and Tottenham to go down. After that result [at Old Trafford], I’m favouring Tottenham to go down.”

Relegation will have disastrous consequences for Spurs

According to some experts, Tottenham’s revenue could take a whopping £250m hit if they were to go down to the Championship.

That could have a crippling effect on the club, which is why some have suggested that Spurs will be forced to offload many of their high earners if they go down.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters will not be able to welcome the team coach ahead of Saturday’s fixture at home to Brighton due to a change in pre-match preparations.

Recently, Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left with a choice. Either they can turn their back on the team, or provide them with unwavering support.

The latter was decided ahead of the club’s most recent home match, as Spurs fans lined the streets to greet their team.

Unfortunately, this had no impact on the pitch as Tottenham were embarrassed by Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 defeat.

However, this has not stopped the most hardcore members of the fanbase from attempting something similar ahead of the Brighton game.

Tottenham’s coach meet has been cancelled

Despite these efforts, the supporters will no longer be gathering outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the weekend.

This is because the team will arrive earlier than usual, due to a decision taken by Roberto De Zerbi, as he searches for his first win as Spurs manager.

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The fans have expressed their disappointment, but accept that the Italian is doing what he feels is best in order to get his players performing.

Thankfully, alternative plans were already being worked on, which means Tottenham will still be able to experience the backing of their faithful followers.

The Spurs fan gathering has caused some controversy

Quite bizarrely, Tottenham fans have been left divided after the decision to welcome the team coach before the Nottingham Forest defeat.

One of the main reasons for this is because some believed it placed unnecessary pressure on Spurs to perform, ahead of a game where the stakes were already huge. Of course, there are others who have strongly rejected this narrative.

There were also fears that the club were hijacking something which had been organically created by the supporters. After all, they plastered videos all over social media and were said to be involved with the planning before Brighton’s visit to North London.

It appears you can’t even show your support for the team in a tough moment without getting criticism.

Tottenham Hotspur need to secure a victory against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, and we have identified three Spurs players who could make it happen.

Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate need of a victory as they continue their fight to stay up in the Premier League this season.

Last time out against Sunderland, Spurs fell short, suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Regis Le Bris’ side, a result that has now left them in the bottom three following victories from their relegation rivals.

Spurs are now set to welcome Brighton to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Roberto De Zerbi’s first home game, and we have identified three Tottenham stars who could spark a win against the Seagulls.

Tottenham must unleash Mathys Tel to fix attacking issues

There is no denying that if Tottenham are to remain a Premier League side, they must find a way to win games and score goals.

Spurs have simply not been doing either of late, failing to score in their last two outings while remaining winless in their last 14 games.

In De Zerbi’s debut, we saw a tweak in the setup, with Randal Kolo Muani, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison all starting in the front three, but while they had their moments, it was very clear these players offered little wing threat.

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De Zerbi must now restore that threat against Brighton, especially in front of the home support, and that is where Mathys Tel comes in.

The young Frenchman is capable of taking on his man, getting to the byline or cutting inside to deliver into the box, which should increase Spurs’ chances of creating openings.

With Kudus’ injury, deploying him on the right would add much-needed width in that area.

Tottenham need Xavi Simons in natural number ten role

The Dutchman barely featured in De Zerbi’s debut, only coming on in the final stages, where he made little impact.

However, the new Spurs boss has since revealed that he has a clear plan for how he wants to use Xavi Simons in this Tottenham side, emphasising the need to get the 22-year-old into his best positions.

There is no denying that Simons’ most effective role is behind the striker in the number ten position.

If De Zerbi finds a way to get the Dutchman in those zones against his former side this weekend, Simons could help improve Spurs’ fortunes in front of goal.

While he has been inconsistent this season, he has shown flashes of brilliance, with his display against Atletico Madrid a clear example.

If used from the left with the freedom to roam rather than being fixed to the touchline, that tactical tweak could benefit Spurs.

Tottenham can rely on Destiny Udogie for width and delivery

The full-back has had his fair share of injuries this campaign, but it now looks as though he is back fit and ready.

Against Sunderland, Destiny Udogie was one of the better performers, offering both attacking and defensive support down the flank.

He could again be key this weekend, particularly if Xavi Simons is used on the left in a freer role, with Udogie providing the width.

The Italian has quality in his delivery, and if De Zerbi can get him into positions where he can drive balls into the box, Tottenham’s chances of securing a much-needed victory will improve significantly.

After suffering defeat in his first game as Tottenham Hotspur boss, Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping to make amends this weekend against his former side, Brighton and Hove Albion. We have now attempted to predict how Roberto De Zerbi could line up against the Seagulls.

The Seagulls come into the clash against Spurs in fine form, having secured a 2-0 victory over Burnley in their last outing.

In fact, Fabian Hurzeler’s side is the second most in-form team in the Premier League based on results from the last five games, with Brighton winning four of their last five outings and securing 12 points in that run.

But Spurs must beat the Seagulls if they are to keep their survival hopes alive heading into the final games of the season.

This encounter marks De Zerbi’s first home game as Tottenham boss, and we have now attempted to predict how he might set up.

Spurs predicted XI vs Brighton with Richarlison and Pedro Porro starting

Goalkeeper – Antonin Kinsky: Guglielmo Vicario could still be out for this encounter as he continues to recover from hernia surgery, and that should see Kinsky continue in goal after a solid first start in the Premier League this season.

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Right-back – Pedro Porro: The Spaniard was one of the few Spurs players to put in a solid display in De Zerbi’s debut against Sunderland, and we expect him to build on that performance this weekend.

Centre-back – Kevin Danso: We expect the Austrian to be the one De Zerbi turns to in the final games of the season, with Cristian Romero set to miss 5-7 weeks of action.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: He remains fit, so he should start alongside Danso on Saturday afternoon.

Left-back – Destiny Udogie: The full-back was impressive against Sunderland, offering both attacking and defensive cover for Spurs, and as a result, we expect him to start once again here.

Centre midfielder – Joao Palhinha: Tottenham missed some defensive solidity in midfield against Sunderland, and De Zerbi will likely turn to the grit of Palhinha this weekend. Rodrigo Bentancur returns to the squad but only fit enough for the bench.

Centre midfielder – Archie Gray: Supporting Palhinha as a second pivot, we have gone for Archie Gray, who has been arguably one of Spurs’ better players this season and one who can help progress the ball from deeper midfield.

Attacking midfielder – Conor Gallagher: While Gallagher might not feature deep in midfield, we do expect that he could be deployed further forward, with Lucas Bergvall dropping to the bench. It might not be a popular decision, but De Zerbi is a big fan of Gallagher.

Left winger – Mathys Tel: The Frenchman did not start against Sunderland, but we expect he will be back in the starting XI this weekend following the underwhelming display from Tottenham’s attack last time out.

Striker – Richarlison: According to Jamie O’Hara’s player ratings, Dominic Solanke was the worst player on the pitch for Spurs against the Black Cats, and that is hard to argue against, given how little he was involved in proceedings. As such, we expect to see Richarlison take his spot.

Tottenham Hotspur face a pivotal Premier League clash this weekend, with pressure mounting as they look to respond to the damaging defeat at Sunderland last weekend and keep their survival hopes alive. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Brighton.

Roberto De Zerbi now has the task of picking up his Tottenham Hotspur squad, who were once again beaten in their last Premier League outing against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat against Regis Le Bris’ side, a result that now leaves them in the bottom three, two points adrift of safety with six games to spare.

However, up next for the Italian is his home debut, with a clash against his former side Brighton and Hove Albion, who managed a 2-0 victory in their last league outing against Burnley.

When and where Tottenham vs Brighton takes place

Tottenham will take on Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, 18 April 2026 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Brighton and Hove Albion live on TV

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch Tottenham vs Brighton live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

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Spurs and Brighton team news ahead of Premier League clash

Coming into this encounter against his former side, De Zerbi still has injuries to contend with.

Cristian Romero was the latest to join the treatment table after picking up an injury against Sunderland and is set to miss five to seven weeks.

That now means Spurs are expected to be without eight players, with James Maddison, Ben Davies, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus, Guglielmo Vicario and Rodrigo Bentancur remaining unavailable.

As for Brighton, Adam Webster is dealing with a knee injury, Lewis Dunk is suspended, and Stefanos Tzimas is out with a cruciate ligament injury.

Tottenham must respond in relegation battle against Brighton

Victory is absolutely crucial for Tottenham in this clash against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend if they are to give themselves a fighting chance in this relegation scrap.

Spurs simply cannot afford any more defeats, especially when their relegation rivals are in fine form heading into the Premier League run-in.

Last gameweek, West Ham, Leeds and Nottingham Forest all avoided defeat in their respective clashes, which is a big blow for Spurs.

Tottenham are at home this time, and they must begin to make their home advantage count in this fight for survival.

Tottenham Hotspur are contemplating a move for an Ivorian international, whose stock has risen considerably this season, but they may have to act fast to beat Chelsea to the player.

It may be a bit premature for Spurs to start thinking about the summer transfer window, given that their place in the Premier League next season is far from assured.

However, Tottenham have seemingly started planning for the transfer window, perhaps in an effort not to get left behind in the race for their top transfer targets.

It has now emerged that the Lilywhites have set their sights on a young midfielder, who is turning a lot of heads with his performances in Turkey this season.

Tottenham set Christ Inao Oulai as ‘high priority’ target but so have their London rivals

Sports Boom have now claimed that Tottenham have been impressed by Christ Inao Oulai’s displays at Trabzonspor, and both they and Chelsea have opened ‘high priority’ files on the youngster.

It is revealed that the two London clubs have sent representatives to every match involving the centre midfielder of late, and have been excited by his rise as one of the best young midfielders and registas in Europe.

Additionally, Bournemouth and Brighton also sent representatives to Trabzonspor’s recent matches against Basaksehir, Fenerbahce, and Kayserispor to run the rule over Oulai.

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In the various scouting reports, the 20-year-old’s ability to retain the ball under pressure and his athletic recovery speed were attributes that received top marks.

Spurs may have to spend big to land Oulai

SportsBoom explains that Trabzonspor do not want to lose the midfielder and are well protected since he is contracted until 2030.

The report claims that the Turkish club would not even be willing to start negotiations for Oulai for any proposal below €40 million (£34.7m).

The publication adds that Trabzonspor are hoping to hang onto the Ivory Coast international for one more season and aim to push his valuation up to €50m (£43.4m) by next summer.

Roy Keane has reflected on Roberto De Zerbi starting his spell at Tottenham with a loss, and has shared whether he expects the Italian to keep the Lilywhites up.

Despite Spurs’ current predicament in the Premier League, there was a feeling of optimism ahead of the clash against Sunderland after De Zerbi arrived through the door during the international break.

Reports had indicated in the lead-up to the game that the Tottenham players had raved about the training sessions under the Italian coach.

In fact, The Independent even claimed that De Zerbi’s arrival had injected fresh spirit and impetus into the Spurs squad, and had changed the mood at Hotspur Way.

Roy Keane not surprised that Roberto De Zerbi lost his first game in charge at Tottenham

However, the positive mood in the camp did not quite translate to a performance on the pitch, with Spurs struggling to create clear-cut opportunities, and being punished at the other end midway through the second-half by the Black Cats.

Keane was not surprised at Tottenham’s performance and result against Sunderland, insisting that it was always going to take a bit more time for De Zerbi to get his ideas across to the squad.

The Man United legend said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “The manager has only been there a week or two. How many sessions is that? You are not going to have a great reaction.

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“It’s maybe next week after learning from the game. You can do all the training sessions. He will learn more about the game now but obviously, they are up against it.”

Keane expects De Zerbi to keep Spurs up

According to Opta’s Supercomputer, Tottenham are now the favourites to join Burnley and Wolves in the Championship next season.

However, Keane still believes that De Zerbi will Spurs out of trouble, backing the Italian to get the better of his former side when Brighton come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Saturday.

Keane has admitted in the past that he considers himself a Tottenham fan after growing up supporting them in Ireland.

When asked if he expects the North Londoners to go down, the pundit said: “I still think they are going to get out of it. I just have that feeling they will produce something. They have got to start quickly and that is with Brighton at home.

“I think they are capable of beating Brighton. The manager used to manage Brighton. Sometimes you need something like that to kind of get you over the line. They are more than capable of getting some momentum and beating Wolves.”

Gary Neville has revealed the one thing that should concern Tottenham Hotspur and their fans the most during their current relegation battle.

Roberto De Zerbi’s spell in N17 did not start as Spurs fans would have hoped, with the Lilywhites falling to a 1-0 loss to Sunderland.

The new Spurs head coach insisted that he saw positives in his side’s performance at the Stadium of Light, but the reality at this stage of the season is that the Lilywhites need results.

Tottenham are now two points adrift of 17th-placed West Ham, and they now have just six league games to prevent the ultimate disaster.

Gary Neville claims Tottenham are not capable of doing what their relegation rivals did

The Lilywhites have not won a single league game in 2026, while many of their relegation rivals are picking up points consistently.

Gary Neville noted that the performance that Leeds produced in the first half of their 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Monday is not something that Tottenham are capable of.

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Speaking after United’s 2-1 loss to Daniel Farke’s said, Neville told Sky Sports: “First half tonight, they were absolutely wonderful. That is a performance that I don’t think Tottenham are capable of.

“That’s the scary thing for Tottenham, not just the six points that Leeds United have gone clear of them tonight, but the actual performance levels that they put in – they’re nowhere near that.

“You watch Spurs yesterday against Sunderland and it’s a set of ingredients that don’t go together, a concoction of misfits. Yet you watch Leeds tonight and there’s a flow.

“They had to dig in in the second half and they found it difficult when Manchester United went to ten men and they started throwing caution to the wind.”

Leeds’ win has worsened Spurs’ survival odds according to Opta

After last weekend’s result, for the first time, Opta considered Tottenham the favourites to go down alongside Burnley and Wolves, giving the Lilywhites a 46.5 per cent chance of being relegated/

The supercomputer revised its numbers again following Leeds’ surprise win at Manchester on Monday, which has put Daniel Farke’s side in a very comfortable position.