Brighton & Hove Albion come into the game against Tottenham Hotspur with mixed hopes after a difficult month in September. Fabian Hurzeler will need to work out some key issues in his system, especially against a Tottenham side that do have pace on the counterattack.

Brennan Johnson, who is currently in excellent form, is a player the Albion must closely monitor. Spurs fans were critical of the player's performance last month, but since then, he has gone on to become a key player for Ange Postecoglou, scoring five goals in his last five games.

Key areas That ability to break fast with Johnson will be a key area for Brighton to try and rectify before Sunday's game. Hurzeler's side faced some severe problems due to the sheer height of their line against Chelsea last week, and failure to address that issue in some shape will result in a similar showing against the Lilywhites.

Micky van de Ven's running from defence caused issues for Manchester United last weekend, but with Brighton's midfield being more mobile and compact than Erik ten Hag's side, the same gaps are unlikely to appear in this game.

Spurs are on a strong run of form, winning all of their last five games in all competitions after a rocky start to the campaign. Defeats to Newcastle United and Arsenal, as well as a draw at Leicester City, left Postecoglou under a wave of pressure, but he has persevered and shown both his and the team's class in recent games.

However, Brighton can pose a significant threat to the London-based team. The Albion have already taken points from Manchester United and Arsenal this season, and they will come into the game confident despite their current form.

Carlos Baleba enters the game after a successful month in September. The midfield battle will be key, with Fabian Hurzeler's side proving they can compete with the best in recent games. Jack Hinshelwood is expected to retain his place in the side, but Brighton will remain without Joao Pedro, who is not quite ready yet.

Regarding the players who are expected to miss the game on Sunday for both sides, the home team has the more significant injury list. Given that Jan Paul van Hecke is unlikely to recover in time for the game, Lewis Dunk could potentially start alongside Igor Julio or Adam Webster.

Elsewhere in the team, Brajan Gruda and James Milner trained along with Solly March, with the trio expected to be available for selection. Joel Veltman is also likely to be in the squad after missing the Chelsea game with a knock.

Simon Adingra, however, is not anticipated to be available for the game alongside the aforementioned Joao Pedro, with Matt O'Riley also not ready to come back from his ankle injury.

For the away team, the injury list is a lot smaller, but there will be a significant absentee. A minor muscle injury has kept Heung-Min Son out of action, but he should return by the end of this month.

Richarlison is also nursing a muscle problem and will miss the game. Wilson Odebert is recuperating from a hamstring injury, and Sunday's match is a week too early for his inclusion in the squad.

Brighton's defensive struggles Last week, Brighton struggled to match the sheer speed of Chelsea's front line due to van Hecke's absence. Adam Webster struggled with Hurzeler's high-line for significant portions of the game, prompting the substitution of Igor to more effectively cover the wide areas.

Dominic Solanke, who has finally started to find the net regularly since switching from Bournemouth in the summer, will likely test Webster once more.

Victory will be critical for Albion, with a difficult bunch of fixtures coming up after the international break. The return on the 19th presents a task against a Newcastle United side who have found a way to win in recent weeks, followed by a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers before back-to-back games against Arne Slot's Liverpool.

After that, Manchester City are next, making the October period going into November one of the most daunting for Hurzeler and his side. It is, however, likely to be a task the German will relish and one that will allow Brighton to find out where they truly are this season and what the aspirations can be come the end of May.

Previous meetings The latest meetings between the two sides have been mixed, with Spurs winning three and Brighton two of the last five games. The first fixture between the two teams was back in 1903, ending in a draw, and the latest iteration of the clash was back in February, with Ange Postecoglou's side coming away with three points.

A win for Hurzeler's side would put them back in contention for the European spots, as they aim to emulate Roberto De Zerbi's achievements in the 22/23 season and qualify for one of the European competitions.

Tottenham, on the other hand, could enter the top four if results in other games go their way, with Aston Villa taking on Manchester United on Sunday too, in a game that could have huge ramifications in the race for the top four.

Postecoglou's side has conceded just five goals this season, conceding the second fewest goals per game in the league, so Brighton will be hoping top scorer Danny Welbeck is on form again if they want to come away with three points.

Evan Ferguson has yet to announce his return to the goal scoring charts, but Sunday could be the perfect way for the Irishman to get back among the goals in Joao Pedro's absence.

After the outcome against Chelsea in the Premier League, Fabian Hurzeler needs to be mindful of the risks associated with such a high line and the potential for exposure.

The most intriguing thing will be whether he aims to tweak his system on Sunday against a pacey Spurs side or whether he's comfortable with following through and sticking to his philosophy to try and force his Brighton side to become more accustomed to it.

At St. Pauli, he very rarely changed his style. But he's never managed at this high a level, and playing such a high-risk style in the Premier League can sometimes work against you.

With that said, all eyes are on Sunday, where Hurzeler will be hoping it can work for him yet again.