FA Cup: Tottenham’s Last Chance to Challenge for Silverware

Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Tottenham will look to keep their trophy hopes alive here in the FA Cup when they’ll face Brighton over at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

Antonio Conte has no plans in settling for nothing in his first season with the Spurs and this is their last opportunity to challenge for some silverware since they’re out in the running in the Premier League, Europa Conference League, and EFL Cup.

Spurs are favoured by the pre-match SBOTOP betting odds since they appear to have a stronger squad on paper. However, Brighton are out to prove they’re no fluke and they’re faring well under Graham Potter.

Compared to last season, the Seagulls are clear from danger in the Premier League and they have a realistic chance of making a deep run into this tournament.

Talking Points

Incoming debut for Tottenham’s new recruits?

Tottenham were dubbed as one of the biggest winners in the January transfer window since they were able to get rid of some of their unwanted players while strengthening Antonio Conte’s options.

Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso left for Everton and Villarreal respectively, but Tottenham replaced them with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus – and both of them might make their debuts this weekend.

Bentancur and Kulusevski have a chance to revive their careers in North London as both have failed to impress in Serie A over the past few seasons. And if they do return to form, Antonio Conte could have two bargains on his hands.

But at the end of the day, Tottenham’s fate lies at the hands of their main man in Harry Kane. The Englishman has all the motivation to do his best for Spurs since he has yet to win a trophy and there’s no doubt that he will want to do it right, even if he plans to leave the club soon.

Kane is in fine form as far as the FA Cup is concerned since he has scored 11 goals in his last 11 FA Cup appearances, putting him on top of Brighton’s scouting report.

Brighton still unbeaten for 2022

The Seagulls are off to a decent start in 2022 since they’ve yet to lose a game. However, three of their last five games have been unconvincing since they’ve all ended in 1-1 draws.

Overall, though, Brighton fans are happy to know that they’re in a much better place since they’ve emerged as a Top 10 Premier League side. Although Tottenham are a tough opponent, they’ve already beaten them in the past.

Neal Maupay is the team’s leading scorer with eight goals and two assists. But their x-factor for this game is their second-leading scorer Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian has been a nice addition for Brighton. Trossard has contributed four goals and one assist, but there’s a feeling that there’s more to what he can offer.

Brighton can certainly cause problems to Tottenham’s shaky backline, leaving an opportunity for Trossard and Maupay to create FA Cup 2022 highlights.

History

Tottenham and Brighton are to meet for the first time this season. They were supposed to face off in the Premier League last December, but a COVID-19 outbreak within the Spurs’ camp has caused the postponement.

The Spurs appear to have the advantage this weekend since they’ve won each of their last seven home games against Brighton in all competitions, which is a run that dates back to 1982.

Sunday marks the second-ever FA Cup meeting between these two English top-flight sides. Tottenham came away with a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane with goals from Ledley King and Robbie Keane during their third round encounter in January 2005.

Brighton have only won two of their last nine FA Cup games against Premier League sides (D1, L6), while Tottenham have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in five of their last six campaigns.

Betting Tip

	Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton & Hove Albion	Tottenham Hotspur Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.16
	February 05, 04:00 (GMT+8)

The FA Cup 2022 odds see this as a close match as neither side are willing to give up. Tottenham are installed as the favourites to win at 1.87, while Brighton aren’t that far behind at 3.60 and a draw is priced at 3.25 in the 1×2 market.

This is indeed a huge game for both sides. And given their ambitions of making a deep run into the competition, both managers are expected to field in their strongest lineups since neither side are competing in Europe anyway.

But in the end, we will have to give the Spurs the edge since they have the better quality, although they’ll be pushed to the limit by the gritty Seagulls.

 

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