AliousTottenham Hotspur are still searching for their first Premier League victory of 2026 as they prepare to host Roberto De Zerbi’s former side, Brighton, on Saturday.
Spurs find themselves in a precarious position, sitting 18th in the table—two points behind West Ham, three adrift of Nottingham Forest, and six behind Leeds United, who recently stunned Manchester United with an away win. De Zerbi now faces a challenging home debut against Brighton, a team currently topping the Premier League form table, while Tottenham sit firmly at the bottom after a prolonged poor run.
The Italian’s first match in charge ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, where he opted for a cautious lineup at the Stadium of Light.
With pressure mounting, Tottenham reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor were asked to select the starting XI they believe should face Brighton, as Spurs look to reverse their fortunes.
Alasdair Gold – Tottenham correspondent
Gold believes Antonin Kinsky should retain his place in goal, especially with Guglielmo Vicario still not back in training. In defence, Kevin Danso is expected to step in for the injured Cristian Romero, joining a backline that otherwise limited Sunderland to a single, heavily deflected effort from Nordi Mukiele.
In midfield, Gold would stick with Archie Gray but pair him with Yves Bissouma, who, despite limited appearances, offers forward momentum and quick ball progression—qualities Tottenham currently lack. With Rodrigo Bentancur not fully fit and both Joao Palhinha and Conor Gallagher struggling for form, Bissouma could be key, particularly against his former club.
Gold suggests deploying a flexible 4-2-3-1 system that can shift into a 4-3-3. This would allow Lucas Bergvall to bring energy on the right while drifting inside, giving Pedro Porro space to push forward down the flank.
Xavi Simons is a clear choice for the number 10 role, having been Tottenham’s most creative player this season. The Dutch midfielder leads the squad in chances created, has played significantly more through balls than his teammates, ranks among the top for duels won, and boasts a standout expected assists figure of 3.56.
On the left, Mathys Tel should return, as he remains the only winger consistently capable of beating defenders. Up front, it’s a close call between Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, though De Zerbi is believed to favour Solanke as a vital component of his system.
Gold’s predicted XI:
Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Bissouma; Bergvall, Xavi Simons, Tel; Solanke
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