Tottenham Hotspur play host to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Wednesday evening having returned to winning ways in the top flight with a 5-1 victory over Stoke City.
Brighton visit Wembley Stadium having failed to win any of the their last five fixtures in the top flight, a run leaving the club just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Tottenham Hotspur
© SilverHub
Ahead of last weekend's fixtures, Mauricio Pochettino had been left to contemplate his side being off the pace not only in the race for the title, but in trying to achieve a top-four spot at the end of the season.
However, after Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all failed to win, Spurs' demolition of the Potters has left the North Londoners back to within two points of fourth and just four points behind Chelsea, who sit in third.
Pochettino would have been concerned having previously witnessed his players fail to record a win in four league matches, but they now have the opportunity to register back-to-back triumphs at their temporary home ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester City.
While there will be relief having seen Spurs score more than two goals in a league game since October 22, the head coach still has issues with his defence with another sloppy goal from a set piece extending their run without a clean sheet to five matches.
In attack, Son Heung-min is emerging as Pochettino's go-to man with the South Korean winger scoring in each of his last three appearances having initially endured a slow start to the campaign, but the forward still faces a battle to get ahead of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli in the pecking order.
Despite last weekend's success, there will remain a feeling that Spurs have the potential to disappoint at Wembley in a match where, on paper, they are favourites, but Pochettino will hope that thrashing Stoke will lead to his team producing a similar run of home form to that which was produced at White Hart Lane last season.
Recent form: WLDLDW
Recent form (all competitions): WDLDWW
Brighton & Hove Albion
© SilverHub
When Brighton put together a five-match unbeaten run from the middle of October through to the latter end of November, it was suggested that last season's Championship runners-up had fully settled into life in the top flight.
However, with just two points being recorded from their last five fixtures, Chris Hughton finds himself searching for solutions for his side's issues at both ends of the pitch.
Brighton's only goal from their last four matches has come from the penalty spot, while seven goals being conceded in two matches against Liverpool and Huddersfield Town respectively has led to questions about the consistency of their backline going forward.
Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk have been excellent in the centre of defence this season but must now find a way to deal with Kane after two poor showings, while goalkeeper Mathew Ryan will be aware that he needs to put in more performances like the one which kept Manchester United to just one goal at the end of November.
As it stands, there are not too many reasons to panic with Brighton sitting just below mid-table, but the Seagulls face four top-10 teams in quick succession, with Burnley, Watford and Chelsea all to come following the match at Wembley.
Hughton will already have one eye on the January transfer window but for now, he needs to see more of the current members of his squad finding some form, with Pascal Gross and Glenn Murray scoring all but six of the club's goals in the Premier League.
Recent form: WDLDLL
Team News
© Offside
Spurs have no fresh injury worries ahead of welcoming Brighton, with Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama still sidelined and Davinson Sanchez serving the second of his three-match ban.
However, Pochettino may take the opportunity to hand a first start of the season to Erik Lamela, who has now come through 49 minutes of action from the bench after missing over a year with a hip injury.
Serge Aurier and Danny Rose are also in contention to come back into the team, with Pochettino potentially looking at resting players ahead of Saturday's evening clash against City, and Mousa Dembele is unlikely to be used in three matches in the space of a week.
Hughton is expected to make changes to his starting lineup, with midfielder Beram Kayal in contention to make his first appearance of the season after recently returning to the bench.
Tomer Hemed will also hope to feature, with Murray having failed to score from open play in five matches, and Anthony Knockaert is another who could come into the team having missed Saturday's game at the John Smith's Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Winks, Sissoko; Son, Alli, Lamela; Kane
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Suttner; Stephens, Propper, Kayal, Knockaert, Gross; Hemed
Head To Head
Wednesday's match represents just the 25th time in which these two teams are squaring off in a competitive fixture, with Spurs recording 11 wins in comparison to six victories for Brighton.
It has been 34 years since the clubs met in a league match, with just two encounters taking place in cup competitions since 1983.
In 2005, Spurs prevailed 2-1 in an FA Cup fixture, while in 2014, Lamela and Kane got on the scoresheet to earn their side a 2-0 triumph at White Hart Lane.
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton have struggled in recent weeks and a trip to the national stadium to play a resurgent Spurs has not come at the right time. Pochettino knows that only a win will do on Wednesday night and we expect the North Londoners to ease to another three points.
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