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It's a pivotal day for Tottenham in their battle against relegation as they host Brighton, live on Sky Sports.

The most out-of-form team, Spurs, play the most in-form team at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi faces his old side in his first home game.

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Tottenham are two points from safety with six games left to play.

Quite simply, they have to earn a first league win of 2026 if they are to get their survival bid under way.

But there are no such problems for Brighton, who are eyeing up a European spot after a fine run.

The Seagulls have won five of their last six league games, and a win could take them sixth.

Can the visitors keep up their strong form to deepen Spurs' relegation fears? Or can the home side grab a vital win to move out of the bottom three?

We'll bring you all the build-up, including the all-important team news at 4.15pm, with live updates from kick-off at 5.30pm. Stay tuned.

Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed Tottenham captain Cristian Romero will not play again this season – but he remains positive the club can stay up and promised more dinners out if they beat Brighton.

Romero suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Sunderland, De Zerbi’s debut fixture in charge of Spurs, and the defender will miss the final six games of a disastrous Premier League campaign.

Tottenham have spent the last week in the relegation zone and De Zerbi took his 18th-placed squad out for a meal in Mayfair ahead of Saturday’s visit of his former club Brighton in an attempt to build relationships for a crucial final stretch of the season.

“Yes, I don’t know if we win the game for dinner. I know we eat very well. The food was amazing and if we win, I am ready to pay every week for one dinner,” De Zerbi smiled.

“We have to build and find in these last weeks the best relationship we can find, and I want to see on the pitch players helping their team-mates and pushing everybody for one target and to achieve our big, big target for us.

“If we don’t achieve our target, everybody will lose something in their career.

“I am positive, I am ready to fight and I believe to keep Premier League [status]. I believe in my words that I said last week. The focus is to win one game.

“Yes, I think it is crucial to win a game not just for the table. Of course one part of the table for sure, but we have to feel again what is nice to win a game and what it can do. I have no doubts about the quality of the players.”

De Zerbi declined to confirm who would take the captain’s armband in the absence of Romero, but revealed Rodrigo Bentancur was available for Saturday’s critical fixture after a three-month layoff with a hamstring injury.

Yves Bissouma is “100 per cent fit” after being an unused substitute at Sunderland but first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is still not ready for action after he had minor hernia surgery last month.

“Bentancur is available to play. I don’t know if to start or not. Bissouma is available 100 per cent. Vicario, no,” De Zerbi explained.

“Romero, I am really sorry for him and his injury. Romero first of all loves Tottenham and the people have to know he is suffering for this injury and because he cant play any more for us this season, but he’s a great captain for us.

“We have to be any way positive. We have Radu Dragusin and Kevin, they are able to play and able to play well.

“We can win any way and we want to win any way.”

James Maddison took part in first-team training this week eight-and-a-half-months on from suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in Seoul in preseason, but De Zerbi was coy over his availability in the coming weeks.

“Maddison is a top player on the pitch with the ball, but also as a personality, as a character, as a mentality on the pitch,” said the Italian.

“I don’t know yet. I don’t want to push too much because we lost [Mohammed] Kudus in this way.”

Our football betting expert Jones Knows offers his insight across the weekend action and tips up a 78/1 best bet treble.

Brentford vs Fulham, Saturday 12.30pm

Head-to-head data is usually the first thing to chuck in the bin when analysing football from a betting perspective, but derby matches are the exception to that rule.

This fixture is chaotic by nature. Across their recent seven Premier League meetings, it has averaged 3.6 goals per game.

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Brentford remain one of the most efficient attacking sides in the division when transitions open up, while Fulham's approach under Marco Silva leans heavily into wide overloads and aggressive delivery. So, when these two styles collide, structure tends to give way to big moments being created in the final third. It makes the over 3.5 goals line with Sky Bet an interesting bet at 7/4.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2

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Leeds vs Wolves, Saturday 3pm - PLAY SUPER 6!

Leeds are being priced like a team ready to overwhelm inferior opposition at 4/7 with Sky Bet, yet that feels a touch short when you dig into what Wolves have been serving up lately. Yes, the table looks bleak for them and the direction of travel points towards the Sky Bet Championship, but performances haven't quite matched the narrative.

Take that defeat to West Ham last time out. A 4-0 loss screams collapse, yet it was anything but. Wolves were competitive for long periods, arguably the better side for much of the match, and found themselves on the wrong end of one of those scorelines that simply doesn't reflect the balance of play.

Leeds will bring the usual intensity, directness and physicality. It's their identity. But Wolves aren't a soft touch in that department. In fact, in recent weeks they've shown enough resilience and structure to suggest they won't be bullied in the way the odds imply. The 11/8 with Sky Bet on Wolves double chance has plenty going for it.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1

Newcastle vs Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Bournemouth are unbeaten in 13 across all competitions if you only look at 90-minute results. But this isn't a squeaky clean team to trust based on their horrible underlying numbers in defence.

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Across their last seven matches they have allowed chances worth 14.35 expected goals. They've conceded only five.

That's an overperformance of around 9.65 goals. You're essentially looking at a team giving up chances at a rate of over two expected goals against per 90 and they have played the likes of Burnley, West Ham and Sunderland in that run.

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Yes, there is a lot of noise around Eddie Howe right now at Newcastle, their form isn't at their usual levels but this is a team who have averaged 2.1 expected goals per 90 at home across the last two seasons.

The relentless fixture list has helped kill their season but I'm still a big believer in Howe being the most important part of this project at Newcastle so I'm happy to trust them at home when the price is right. It is here at 10/11 with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

Tottenham vs Brighton, Saturday 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports - PLAY SUPER 6!

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Tottenham are more than likely to be relegated now according to the market. They have gone odds-on at 17/20 with Sky Bet to face the drop. It's very difficult to see where points are going to come from.

This is a team on their longest winless league streak in 91 years with no victories in 14 games and one that have landed the odds just four times in their last 30 Premier League home games. They have had the same amount of managers as home wins in that time.

Brighton are the most in-form team in the Premier League right now, winning five of their last six and winning to nil in their last three away games. Don't overcomplicate it, just back the away win at 6/4 with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 0-3

Chelsea vs Manchester United, Saturday 8pm - PLAY SUPER 6!

Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven - who have a combined age of 39 - are Manchester United's only senior centre-backs available for this clash and both will be eager to impress.

However, Joao Pedro is exactly the kind of striker who can expose that eagerness. His movement is sharp, but more importantly, he's clever. He initiates contact, buys fouls and puts defenders in awkward body positions. Since the start of last season, he's drawn 19 yellow cards from opponents - only six players in the league have won more.

If Yoro or Heaven dive in half a second too early or gets caught the wrong side, Joao Pedro will make sure the referee has a decision to make. That could lead to cards being shown to the two United defenders. Yoro is 5/1 and Heaven is 3/1 with Sky Bet to pick up a card. Combining them both through the BuildABet function offers up a 13/1 longshot to back.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1

Aston Villa vs Sunderland, Sunday 2pm, live on Sky Sports - PLAY SUPER 6!

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Regular readers will know how exploiting the value potential in match-ups in the fouls market can be a bit of a goldmine for beating the market. And the rise of the old school physical centre forward being back in fashion has certainly added a different dynamic to the way we analyse foul markets now as centre backs are being fouled more due to the aggressive nature of the big-man striker.

Brian Bobbey fits that bill.

He played like a man possessed against Spurs last weekend racking up eight foul involvements. And the match-up with Ezri Konsa here looks ripe for a fouls bet. Konsa is too smart to fight attackers - he is one of the best around at selling fouls to win battles. He's averaging 1.5 fouls won per home game this season and I think he's going to play Brobbey like a fiddle and win fouls off him. Konsa is 4/5 with Sky Bet to win two or more fouls.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

Everton vs Liverpool, Sunday 2pm, live on Sky Sports - PLAY SUPER 6!

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Liverpool not to score in first halves away from home remains a sustainable edge to exploit. The Reds have scored just three first-half goals in their last 17 away days as Arne Slot's controlled and safety-first style remains a tedious watch at times. If you have been backing this Liverpool first half blank in their away games you'd have landed the money on 14 of the last 17 occasions.

When you throw in Everton's defensive soundness into the mix, the case grows even stronger. The Toffees have kept a first half clean sheet in 10 of their 16 home games and haven't conceded a first half home goal in their last four games. It's 5/6 with Sky Bet to happen again.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1

Nottingham Forest vs Burnley, Sunday 2pm, live on Sky Sports

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If you offered any of the teams scrapping at the bottom a free hit on who to play next, Burnley at home would be right at the top of the wishlist. One win in their last 23 Premier League matches tells you everything you need to know about where this team is right now. Competitive in spells, yes. But ultimately lacking the cutting edge and resilience needed to turn performances into points.

This is exactly the type of fixture Forest have to cash in on. At home, with the crowd behind them, it's set up for them to take control. But don't expect a goal fest.

Forest aren't a team that tend to run away from opponents. Even in favourable match-ups, their wins are often built on structure, discipline and moments rather than relentless attacking waves. They have scored just two goals in their last seven home games. One goal just might be enough here with a Forest win and under 3.5 goals at 6/5 with Sky Bet standing out.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-0

Manchester City vs Arsenal, Sunday 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports - PLAY SUPER 6!

A monster match. And one where backing the bet no one wants to back is the shrewd move. I'm all over the draw here at 13/5 with Sky Bet.

Arsenal's problems are clear - they have scored just three goals in last five games. Man City scored three goals in 17 minutes at Chelsea last weekend.

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The Gunners' attacking process has completely gone to pot, their frontline are in such stale form.

One of the biggest factors in all of this is the absence of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. The difference in output when Odegaard and Saka both play to when at least one of them is missing is stark. Since the start of last season, Arsenal's goals per game drops from 2.1 to 1.3 without both Saka and Odegaard starting and their expected goals per game goes the same way too, nosediving from 1.9 to 1.3.

Mikel Arteta would snap your hand off for a draw right now.

Arsenal have to play to their strengths and that is their world-class defensive unit without the ball. Do what you're good at. Arsenal should be trying to shut this game down, make it hard for City to score and win set-pieces.

They will come for the draw and at the prices, I'm happy to back them to get it.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1 | JONES KNOWS' BEST BET: Back the draw (13/5 with Sky Bet)

Crystal Palace vs West Ham, Monday 8pm, live on Sky Sports

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Sometimes bets are less about the player you're backing and more about the problem standing in front of him.

That's very much the case here with Chris Richards. If he starts for Crystal Palace, there's a strong chance he'll find himself matched up against Crysencio Summerville - and that's not a duel defenders tend to enjoy for 90 minutes.

The West Ham winger has been a magnet for fouls all season, drawing more yellow cards from opponents than anyone else in the Premier League (14). That tells you exactly what kind of evening Richards could be in for.

He's been carded in two of his last three Premier League appearances, which hints at a player already walking that fine line between aggressive and mistimed. Add in the pressure of dealing with one of the league's trickiest wide players, and you've got the perfect setup for another card which is a 9/2 chance with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2

Jones Knows best bet:

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Tottenham captain Cristian Romero will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

The defender was substituted in tears during Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland following a collision with Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while defending the ball from Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.

Reports claiming the Argentina international will return in time for the World Cup are believed not to be completely accurate, but Romero's season at club level is over.

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Romero's injury is another monumental blow for relegation-threatened Spurs, who are in the bottom three and two points from safety with only six league games remaining.

It is another injury issue for new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, who told reporters on Friday he had expected to rely on Mohammed Kudus only for the forward to suffer a fresh quad injury.

Now he will have to do without Romero for the run-in, whom he had labelled a "crucial player" after the defeat at the Stadium of Light.

When asked about Romero's injury on Sunday, he said: "I hope for us it's not too important a problem because he's a crucial player for us.

"He's a good guy, good player, top player, big personality and we need him to finish this season and to achieve our goal."

Kevin Danso is line to replace Romero for the remainder of the season after the Austria international came on for him in the defeat at Sunderland.

Romero is now facing a race to be fit in time for this summer's World Cup with Argentina aiming to defend the title in USA, Canada and Mexico.

Argentina's opening game of the tournament is on June 17.

Should Brobbey have been punished for push which led to Romero injury?

Romero's season-ending injury came as a result of a push by Brobbey, who was already on a yellow card, leading to questions over whether the striker should have been sent off.

Speaking on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch, ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: "We have to be careful we don't get seduced by the outcome - the injury.

"If the goalkeeper's not there, a little nudge, are you going to send him off for a second yellow card? The answer is most certainly no.

"The goalkeeper comes out and a collision occurs. That changes everyone's perspective, but it wasn't a serious foul."

Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd added: "Romero is not in control of the ball and is trying to block Brobbey from getting it. At some point, Brobbey can't see the ball anymore because he's so close to Romero.

"It's almost like he's pushed him to one side to see it. That's the kind of incident that comes because defenders are trying to shield the ball."

Are Tottenham destined for relegation?

Many of Tottenham's biggest issues were self-diagnosed by Roberto De Zerbi during his first game in charge. Spurs had fallen into the bottom three before travelling to Sunderland, and their performance in defeat did nothing to strengthen the belief that they can climb out of it.

Appointing De Zerbi as one of the highest-paid head coaches in the division at this juncture of an already calamitous campaign was a high-stakes gamble. Some might argue that keeping Igor Tudor on would have been riskier still.

But whoever the boss - De Zerbi is Spurs' fourth of the last 12 months - the same problems seem to persist.

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter analyses De Zerbi's first game in charge.

Carra: Spurs look like they're going down

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:

"I can't believe it. Tottenham look like they're going to go down," said Carragher. "The other [relegation-threatened] teams have something going for them.

"You look at fixtures, you think that's a good game for Tottenham. But they're awful. Tottenham's a good game for them.

"Wolves are bottom of the league. Do you think Tottenham will go there, and win? No chance."

Tottenham's remaining games

Saturday: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports

April 25: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm

May 2: Aston Villa (A) - Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm

May 11: Leeds (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports

May 17: Chelsea (A) - Premier League

Many of Tottenham's biggest issues were self-diagnosed by Roberto De Zerbi during his first game in charge. Spurs had fallen into the bottom three before travelling to Sunderland and their performance in defeat did nothing to strengthen belief they can climb out of it.

Appointing De Zerbi at this juncture of an already calamitous campaign was a high-stakes gamble. Some might argue that keeping Igor Tudor on would have been riskier still. But whoever the head coach - De Zerbi is Spurs' fourth of the last 12 months - the same problems seem to persist.

Tottenham do not have a style to speak of. Perhaps that was part of the enigmatic Italian's appeal. De Zerbi clearly offers philosophy, a distinctive way of playing, and as evidenced by his time at Brighton, a high ceiling of performance level.

The complication is that this Spurs side in its current configuration is not capable of delivering against De Zerbi's plans. That much was evident at Sunderland. Nordi Mukiele's heavily-deflected effort was the nail in the coffin of a tepid offering and now the narrative has descended into analysis of increasing relegation probabilities.

Carra: Spurs look like they are going down

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What felt like an impossibly shocking consequence of severe underperformance, that had the power to goad but lacked genuine substance, now feels very probable indeed. One point from a possible 24 is desperate.

Spurs' 14-match winless Premier League run is their worst since 1935. They are increasingly compelling contenders for the drop. Perhaps, as Jamie Carragher hypothesised on Super Sunday, a more convincing case than those around them given recent form and confidence levels.

De Zerbi explained in his first press conference that he had had little time to implement his tactical ideas to face Sunderland, prioritising "character, the right spirit and the right courage to play". Barring a bright opening 10 minutes, Spurs were devoid of all three.

Something can at least be made of the theory behind De Zerbi's set-up, if not the implementation.

He packed central areas with legs and energy as Conor Gallagher and Lucas Bergvall played ahead of Archie Gray - with sound intention - but in trying to dominate the ball they contrived to lose the battle.

Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra proved a far more accomplished trio. Xhaka controlled the tempo; his touch count (85) was the highest of any player on the park and he generated a game-high 16 passes into the final third.

Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs actually played more final-third passes (nine) than all three of Tottenham's midfielders.

Out of possession the hosts were far superior, too, winning more tackles, successfully contesting more duels and making a greater number of interceptions. Spurs were able to land seven shots on target but only one of those was deemed a big chance and that was fluffed by Dominic Solanke.

Full-back Pedro Porro was the best hope of open-play threat. That does not reflect well on Spurs' attacking contingent.

De Zerbi is an ideas man but he is chronically short of fit creators. One must therefore question the decision to leave Xavi Simons in reserve on Sunday; the Dutchman was only introduced with six minutes remaining. Is that enough time to impact a game Spurs had trailed since the hour mark?

This six-game gauntlet will be decided by decisions such as that. The situational severity means they must be right.

Spurs' new custodian will have had two weeks to get to grips with his playing squad by the time former employers Brighton visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening. He will not have lavish means by which to beat the side he guided to sixth place in 2022/23, but there are tangible improvements to be made.

Spurs have to start on the front foot to face this crisis head on. The north Londoners are winless in each of their last 32 Premier League games after going behind - only eight of those were draws. They have only spent 18.3 per cent of games in winning positions all season.

It has been nearly four months since they last tasted victory in the league, long enough to have forgotten exactly what that feels like or how it is achieved, but whatever the variables this weekend Tottenham must find a way to win.

They must draw from the well of relegation fear with greater effectiveness, especially in moments of misfortune. Games simply escape Tottenham too easily after they suffer a setback and it was no surprise to see Mukiele's effort that cannoned cruelly off the leg of Micky van de Ven be enough to settle Sunday's contest.

That is how fragile Spurs are.

No time for despondence, though. Survival scraps do not entertain sentiment. Theoretically this is a team of good players, now it is up to De Zerbi to get them performing with the strength of character to prove it.

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