Tottenham vs Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Lineups: Confirmed Teams

Tottenham Hotspur hosted Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 18 April 2026 in a Premier League fixture that delivered 90 minutes of back-and-forth action, ending 2-2 after a dramatic late equaliser from Brighton. Beyond the scoreline, the match featured a captain departing through injury, a player returning from a four-month absence, and a bench player who nearly stole the headlines on his debut.

Date: 18 April 2026 · Competition: Premier League · Final Score: Tottenham 2-2 Brighton · Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium · Kick-off: 17:30 UTC

The table below consolidates key match details from official and authoritative sources.

Who scored for Tottenham against Brighton?

Tottenham found the net twice at home, with both goals coming from players who started the match. Pedro Porro opened the scoring in the 39th minute, converting from close range after sustained pressure in the final third. Xavi Simons doubled the tally in the 77th minute, finishing past Bart Verbruggen after a precise assist from Lucas Bergvall, who had come on as a substitute moments earlier.

Key goal scorers

• Pedro Porro — scored at 39′ (Sky Sports)
• Xavi Simons — scored at 77′ (Sky Sports)

Match highlights

Brighton answered twice through substitutes who were brought on in the second half. Kaoru Mitoma equalised shortly after half-time, and Georginio Rutter completed the scoring in the 95th minute with a close-range finish. Rutter’s goal came from an assist by Jan Paul van Hecke, who had moved into an advanced position in stoppage time.

The match officials were Stuart Attwell (referee), Ben Toner, Jarred Gillet, and Adam Nunn (Sky Sports). The attendance of 61,167 filled the majority of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s 62,850 capacity (FotMob).

What are the confirmed Tottenham vs Brighton lineups?

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed their starting eleven on the afternoon of 18 April 2026, with one significant change in defence and two notable returns in midfield. Kevin Danso came into the back line to replace injured captain Cristian Romero, while Rodrigo Bentancur marked his return from injury to make his first appearance since January 2026. Yves Bissouma also returned to the starting XI, replacing Lucas Bergvall.

Tottenham starting XI

Tottenham fielded 11 players in their confirmed starting lineup for this Premier League fixture.

The pattern shows Tottenham’s defensive reshuffle with Danso stepping in for Romero, while the midfield welcomed back two experienced operators.

Brighton starting XI

Brighton’s confirmed starting eleven for the fixture featured a blend of established starters and one notable exception.

Brighton’s lineup revealed Diego Gomez’s early exit and two players subbed at the 75-minute mark, both moments that preceded key changes in the match.

Substitutes

Tottenham’s bench included: Austin, Spence, Dragusin, Palhinha, Gray, Bergvall, Maddison, Tel, and Richarlison. Brighton brought on: Steele, Julio, Rutter, Baleba, Kostoulas, Mitoma, De Cuyper, O’Riley, and Veltman.

What stood out was James Maddison’s inclusion in the Tottenham matchday squad for the first time since suffering an ACL injury in summer 2025. The England international had been working toward a comeback since January, and his name appearing on the team sheet represented a significant milestone for Ange Postecoglou’s squad depth (Tottenham Hotspur Official).

What channel is the Tottenham vs. Brighton game on?

Premier League fixtures are broadcast across multiple platforms depending on territory and schedule. UK viewers typically watch matches via Sky Sports, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), or Amazon Prime Video under the league’s current broadcast arrangements. In the United States, NBC Sports holds rights and streams matches on Peacock and its cable channels.

TV broadcast details

The 17:30 UTC kick-off time placed this fixture in the Saturday evening slot, which in the UK falls under Sky Sports’ “Super Saturday” broadcast window. International viewers should check local listings through their Premier League broadcast partners, as early-morning or late-evening kick-offs in other time zones affect visibility on the main linear channels.

Live streaming options

Beyond traditional television, the Premier League offers official streaming through its app and website for authenticated subscribers. Sky Go and TNT Sports’ streaming platforms serve UK audiences, while Peacock provides the primary US streaming option. Third-party aggregation sites such as FotMob and LiveScore offer real-time updates, lineups, and match statistics alongside the video broadcasts.

What are the Tottenham vs Brighton lineups stats?

Beyond the confirmed starting elevens, the statistical narrative of this match centres on substitutes who changed the game. Both clubs used their bench strategically, with Brighton’s replacements proving particularly decisive.

Player performance

The performance table tracks key actions and their timing throughout the match.

The timing data reveals that Brighton introduced Mitoma and Rutter together in the 75th minute, and both scored within the next 20 minutes of game time.

Team stats

The match statistics reflect an even contest decided by late-game impact. Brighton registered 61,167 attendance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Sky Sports), with the visitors earning a point despite trailing twice. Key substitutions — Mitoma and Rutter for Brighton — both resulted in goals, underlining the impact of the bench depth that Roberto De Zerbi had available in north London.

What is the predicted lineup for Tottenham vs Brighton?

Pre-match predictions for this fixture centred on two storylines: whether James Maddison would feature after months on the sidelines, and whether Kevin Danso would be trusted in a high-stakes Premier League start with Cristian Romero unavailable. Both questions were answered before kick-off.

Predictions and previews

Tottenham’s official preview, published on their YouTube channel with Ben Haines and Rob Daly, set expectations for a match in which the hosts needed a result to maintain their league position (Tottenham Hotspur YouTube). The confirmed lineup showed Postecoglou prioritising experience in midfield with Bentancur’s return, while Kolo Muani led the line in place of a more conventional striker.

For Brighton, the prediction was less dramatic. De Zerbi named a relatively settled XI before turning to his bench for the decisive moments. The arrival of Rutter and Mitoma in the second half validated the strategy, even if it required late-game heroics to complete the comeback.

Summary

Tottenham vs Brighton delivered a result that felt like two points dropped for the hosts and one point gained for the visitors. For Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, the return of Bentancur and presence of Maddison on the bench offered reasons for optimism beyond the scoreline, even as the defensive absence of Romero required an untested replacement in Danso. For Brighton, the substitute strategy executed by De Zerbi produced the desired outcome — Rutter and Mitoma arriving at the right moment to deny Spurs a win that their first-half control had seemed to deserve. The implication is clear: Tottenham’s title credentials, if they remain in contention at this stage of the season, will depend on whether players like Maddison can contribute meaningful minutes off the bench. For Brighton, a point at one of the Premier League’s most difficult away venues represents solid value, with the knowledge that their bench can turn matches when starters need support.

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