Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur Predictions

• Tottenham are conceding more shots per game than in any previous Premier League season
• Brighton have scored two goals per league match this term
• The visitors have seen BTTS land in four straight league outings
• Harry Kane has scored 11 times in his last 11 league games

Incredible start for De Zerbi

Despite the expected criticisms of Brighton for daring to hire a non-English manager, their replacement for Graham Potter had a brilliant introduction to the Premier League last weekend.

Roberto De Zerbi brought the thrilling football which built his reputation in Italy with him to the south coast of England, kicking things off with a 3-3 draw at Liverpool. His start doesn’t get any easier, with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham their next opponents.

Open season on Spurs’ goal

Saturday’s clash will be seen as a clash between two different schools of Italian coaching, with De Zerbi more in the Pep Guardiola mould, having laid the groundwork for the stylistic shift which shot Italy to glory at Euro 2020.

However, Conte’s more rigid approach isn’t exactly working wonders for Tottenham so far. While they picked up a clean sheet in a midweek 0-0 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, the visitors have left themselves open far too often.

Spurs have faced 127 shots through eight Premier League games this season. That average of 15.9 shots faced per match is their highest on record in a single campaign. With each of their last four league games seeing both teams to score, they should give openings to De Zerbi’s adventurous side.

Back goals at the Amex

Brighton’s final game under Potter was a 5-2 win over Leicester, so there have been 13 goals scored across their last two matches. They’ve seen both teams score in each of their last three games, while the hosts have averaged two goals per Premier League game this term.

As for the visitors, they have a clear goal threat in Harry Kane. He became the first ever player to score 100 away goals in the Premier League in their defeat against Arsenal. Kane has scored five goals in his last seven league meetings with Brighton, hitting three in four trips to the Amex Stadium. Having scored 11 in his last 11 league games, back Kane for another goal this weekend.

Spurs have not lost consecutive league games on the road since September 2021, while De Zerbi has failed to win his previous four clashes with Conte. Given that record, I’m going for a 2-2 draw as my correct score prediction.