Premier League: Italian Bosses Come Face to Face on the South Coast

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur

It sounds pretty exciting no? And it is, but when Roberto de Zerbi comes up against Antonio Conte, it will not be on Italy’s Amalfi coast, it will be in Brighton!

Brighton vs Spurs is a top-four clash in the Premier League as De Zerbi takes control of a club in the last Champions League spot, but with a game in hand on Spurs, who sit three points ahead in third. With a goal difference deficit of three, Brighton would have to win this clash by two clear goals to leapfrog their visitors and, with eight goals scored in their last two outings, I wouldn’t rule that out.

The announcement of De Zerbi as the Seagulls’ boss has softened the blow of Graham Potter’s departure to Chelsea as the Italian comes with a reputation for playing exciting football, and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham is the perfect test for an ambitious young coach.

Conte is one of the game’s best managers and he will be keen to rid the Spurs fans of the painful memory of defeat to Arsenal last week by picking up a positive result at the Amex Stadium. Brighton come into the game on the back of a 3-3 draw with Liverpool and, with two attacking teams, both impressive in early season, this promises to be an entertaining clash forSBOTOP fans with plenty at stake for both clubs.

Talking Points

De Zerbi’s task is to keep the Seagulls flying

Former Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo boss De Zerbi has been waiting for an opportunity since leaving Shakhtar in July because of the war in Ukraine, and the 43-year-old has landed what could be the perfect job for him, having penned a four-year deal to manage the Seagulls.

He takes over a team in buoyant form, having recently whacked Leicester City 5-2. And any plans title hopefuls Liverpool had of spoiling his Brighton debut were spectacularly thwarted as Leandro Trossard scored a stunning hat-trick to give the Seagulls a deserved 3-3 draw. They could have picked up all three points were it not for a number of vital saves made by the Reds’ keeper Alisson as the visitors registered six shots on target.

That made it five goals for the campaign for Trossard, while Alexis Mac Allister has four and Pascal Gross has three and two assists. And while the creative players can be relied on to do their stuff, the key man at the back, captain Lewis Dunk remains one of the best centre-backs in the game. It isn’t just in Brighton that fans wonder why Dunk isn’t a regular starter for England…maybe Gareth Southgate can answer that.

Tottenham looking for a reaction

After losing the North London derby in such a disappointing way Conte was looking for a reaction in the Tuesday Champions League clash with Eintracht, and he nearly got it. Spurs’ football was much better and they stretched the Frankfurt defence at will, but the usually reliable Harry Kane and Heung-min Son missed chances they would have expected to score. And the England skipper took a few knocks during the game but seemed fine at the final whistle and should be fit to start on Saturday.

The Premier League 2022 betting odds place Tottenham as marginal favourites to win this game and with the firepower of Kane and Son in the side then they have every chance. The lethal duo just needs to find its range again. Kane has been in good form, with seven goals already while Son opened his account with three against Leicester recently, and there is an added threat in the shape of summer recruit Richarlison.

At the back Eric Dier is performing better in a centre-back role than we have seen for a while, though Emerson is out suspended following his red card in the London Derby.

History

Tottenham have had much the better of the head to head results,winning 11 of the last 14 meetings, losing three and drawing one. The away teams came out on top in both of last season’s encounters; Spurs won 2-0 at the Amex, while Brighton exacted their revenge with a 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium late in the campaign.

Betting Tip

Brighton have had strong Premier League 2022 results at home this term, winning two and drawing one and they are at odds of 1.49 to keep up that record with the double chance (win or draw) at 1.49. The Seagulls are at 2.72 to win and 3.16 to draw with Tottenham marginal favourites at 2.41.

It really is a game which could go either way but we can pretty much guarantee entertainment and I’m hoping for plenty of goals.

 

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