Key events
The relegation trapdoor is ready to swing into action: Wolves’ defeat today means they will go down if Spurs win today. Roberto de Zerbi has had a quick chat, and this is what he said about Maddison’s return:
James is one of the leaders, of the most important players in the squad. I think he can give us energy, quality, because when he is available to play his quality is amazing, and in this moment we need everyone. We need all players focused on Tottenham, and especially an important player like James.
James Maddison returns to Spurs squad for first time this season
Look who’s back! As it happens, Roberto De Zerbi was asked yesterday about James Maddison and the possibility of him returning from injury. This is what he said:
I don’t know yet. I don’t want to push too much. I’m used to waiting for the players when they are available, totally available to play and to restart the training, because it’s better to lose one game more than to take a risk for another new injury.
Which sounded to me like a no. And yet, here he is.
The teams!
The team sheets have been handed in to the referee and can no longer be changed unless someone asks very nicely. And here are those teams:
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Gallagher; Kolo Muani, Simons, Bissouma; Solanke. Subs: Austin, Bergvall, Dragusin, Gray, Joao Palhinha, Maddison, Spence, Tel, Richarlison.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Gomez, Ayari, Hinshelwood, Gross, Minteh; Welbeck. Subs: De Cuyper, Kostoulas, Mitoma, O’Riley, Baleba, Rutter, Steele, Veltman, Igor Julio.
Referee: Stuart Attwell.
VAR: Jarred Gillett.
Hello world! And welcome to today’s episode of Who Wants to Win a League Game in 2026!
Spurs are very close to using all their lifelines and they’ve still had no lucky, but with the two teams immediately above them, West Ham and Nottingham Forest, playing on Monday and Sunday respectively today is an opportunity to turn up the heat in the relegation dogfight, or indeed to deflate the pressure in the relegation dogfight balloon, depending how it goes.
The bad news for Spurs is that, well, they’re rubbish. Since that last league win, a 1-0 success at Crystal Palace on 28 December, they have taken a shameful five points from 14 games, by a massive margin the worst record in the division, while in the same period and also playing 14 times Brighton have 22 points, the fifth-best record in the land (above Everton on goal difference).
The good news is that Brighton begins with the letter B. Even while letting Bournemouth do the double over them Spurs have overperformed against B-sides this season, averaging 1.29 points per game, the record of a solidly mid-table side. Against non-B-sides they’ve taken just 0.84 points per game. But Brighton have won their last three and five of their last six, and ride into this reunion with their former coach Roberto De Zerbi on a wave of form.
Here’s what De Zerbi had to say about this game:
I’m positive. I’m ready to fight. I believe to keep the Premier League, I believe in my words, what I said the last week was the focus is to win one game. I don’t know if tomorrow we are able to win, I hope and I think we have the quality enough to win a game.
I think it’s crucial to win a game, not just for the table – OK, one part for the table for sure – but because we have to feel again what is nice to win a game and what they can do, because I have no doubt about the qualities of the players. OK, now is a tough moment, but to achieve the great target you have to pass through difficult times.
So here’s to a fun couple of hours, and an end to difficult times.