Tottenham Hotspur are now 100/1 to win the Premier League title this season after back-to-back defeats in the top flight saw them drop to sixth in the table.
Jose Mourinho’s side have now lost 3-1 to Liverpool and 1-0 to Brighton in their last two matches, meaning they have dropped away from their early title challenge and now sit some 11 points behind leaders Manchester City, following that most recent loss at the Amex Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s City now sit in pole position with a three-point gap, and a game in hand over the chasing pack. They’re the 1/4 favourites for the title with most bookmakers at Odds manager, with second place Manchester United now out to 16/1 after losing to bottom of the table Sheffield United in midweek and only mustering a draw with struggling Arsenal at the weekend.
Liverpool were also back with a bang following that victory over Spurs and followed that result up nicely with another 3-1 win at West Ham. That keeps the current champions in the race for a second successive title, something which is currently a best price of 4/1 in the Premier League outright betting.
Spurs Sunk By The Seagulls
However, when it comes to Tottenham’s recent result, the Seagulls were much the better side on the night with star man Pascal Gross giving Spurs an early warning sign when he hit the woodwork with just three minutes on the clock.
Just under fifteen minutes later and the home side went in front, with Leandro Trossard side-footing home from a Gross’ cutback on 17 minutes. Albion’s domination didn’t stop there either, with Gareth Bale soon having to head off his own line after Lewis Dunk tried to send his effort goalward on the mark of half time.
The second half then started just as the first had ended, this time with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris having to make a spectacular save to deny a deflected shot from Brighton’s Ben White. It was Tottenham’s Toby Alderweirweld who made that deflection and he was back in on the action just a few moments later with goal line clearance of his own.
Aaron Connolly’s stoppage time effort appeared to be the icing on the cake for Graham Potter’s side, but Alderweirweld did just enough to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Despite a winless December and a disappointing end to the year for Brighton, the new year has brought a change of fortune, which continued by getting the better of Spurs. Albion now have three wins from their last four matches in all competitions, which includes three clean sheets and will have Brighton fans believing that they can escape the dreaded drop zone.
What Did The Managers Say?
Coming into this weekend’s fixture, Brighton and Hove Albion were the only side in England’s top four divisions to have not picked up a home win this season, so manager Graham Potter was understandably delighted for that to come against a top six side in Tottenham Hotspur.
“It’s our best performance [from] this season and last,” Brighton boss Potter told BBC Sport.
“From start to finish we did what we needed to do, created some chances, scored a really good goal [and had a] good attitude around the pitch against a top opponent.”
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, who has now seen his side win just twice in the Premier League in 2021, is feeling the pinch in missing some key players and will be desperate to add to his two wins of the year which came in a 3-0 win against Leeds United and a 3-1 success over Sheffield United.
“When you are too sad, you have no energy, enthusiasm or confidence, and that was what the team showed in the first half,” said Mourinho.
“[My squad] they feel too much the absence of a player like Harry [Kane].”
What’s Next For Brighton and Spurs?
As is always the case at this time of the season in the Premier League, the games are coming thick and fast at a crucial point in the campaign.
Good form is key around this time of year, because any bad patches in February, often mean you are running out of time to try and rectify them. Something which is the case whether you are fighting for the title, European places or even survival.
Brighton will now head to Anfield on Wednesday night to face Liverpool, while Tottenham will host Chelsea in a London Derby on Thursday evening.
