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football.london predicts Tottenham's starting XI for Saturday's must-win Premier League clash against Brighton
Roberto De Zerbi has received two key fitness boosts ahead of Tottenham versus Brighton today. Midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are back in contention, though the Italian is not sure how long either will be able to play just yet.
Nonetheless, their potential involvement is handy after Spurs lost both Mohammed Kudus and captain Cuti Romero to injury for the remainder of the season.
It has already been confirmed that Guglielmo Vicario won't be available to feature so Antonin Kinsky will keep his place between the sticks following a promising display at the Stadium of Light.
At the back, Pedro Porro will play right-back, Destiny Udogie should start at left-back and Kevin Danso should come into replace Romero alongside Micky van de Ven.
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De Zerbi is expected to stick with a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 against his former employers Brighton and Archie Gray should offer protection in midfield.
It's a tough call to select who partners him but Joao Palhinha is pushing to start after coming off the bench at Sunderland.
Xavi Simons is chomping at the bit for an opportunity but De Zerbi appeared to hint during Friday's press conference that the Dutchman may be utilised from the bench.
He said of the attacking midfielder: "I think he can be important for us in this moment. I don't know, 30 minutes, 20 minutes, but I have this opinion about him."
Further forward, Randal Kolo Muani could start on the right again, purely because Tottenham do not have many other players that can play there.
Lucas Bergvall should get the nod to operate in an attacking midfield position while Mathys Tel is pushing for an opportunity from the left flank.
De Zerbi has talked up Dominic Solanke several times and he views the England international as "one of the best strikers in the Premier League" so the ex-Bournemouth hitman could feature over Richarlison.
Bentancur will slot into the starting line-up when he has rebuilt his fitness but it feels quite risky to throw the Uruguayan straight in given he's been out since early January.
A setback at this point of the season would be rather damaging as there would be a huge chance that he could miss the remainder of the season.
After Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus blow, that is not a risk they will want to take.Predicted Tottenham XI vs Brighton: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Gray; Kolo Muani, Bergvall, Tel; Solanke.
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Ryan Taylor
Ryan Taylor is a London-based Football Reporter who has worked across Reach's National titles since 2018. After graduating from the University of Brighton with a Sports Journalism degree, he previously climbed the ranks of the Daily Express, where he also covered boxing, before joining the Sunday Mirror as a Football Reporter in 2023. Ryan has developed a strong track record for breaking news on the London football beat.
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