Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange could axe out Spurs star who lost the ball 23x
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion, which severely impacted their pursuit of a Champions League spot this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s side appeared in control, leading 2-0 at halftime, thanks to goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison.
However, within 20 minutes of the second half, the hosts completely overturned the scoreline. Goals from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, and Danny Welbeck handed Brighton a remarkable comeback win.
Tottenham’s second-half collapse ended their five-game winning streak, leaving Postecoglou with many concerns as the team heads into the international break.
Despite the setback, there were some individual performances worth noting, with Brennan Johnson continuing to shine. On the other hand, other players struggled to make an impact, most notably Dejan Kulusevski.
Brennan Johnson remains a bright spot in Tottenham’s attack, having scored in his sixth consecutive match across all competitions.
The Welsh winger has turned his season around after initially facing criticism for his slow start following his £47.5 million move.
His goal against Brighton was a testament to his improvement, as he now matches Harry Kane’s record for the most consecutive Premier League games scored by a Spurs player. However, his impressive performance could not prevent Tottenham’s collapse in the second half.
While Johnson left the pitch with his reputation enhanced, the same cannot be said for Dejan Kulusevski.
The Swedish international struggled throughout the match, playing in a more central role alongside James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur.
His performance was far from satisfactory, as he struggled to influence the game, both in possession and in his overall involvement.
Kulusevski completed only 20 passes, with a completion rate of 69%, and was involved in 15 duels, winning just four.
Kulusevski’s lack of impact was particularly evident in the fact that he recorded only 55 touches during his 90 minutes on the pitch, a number lower than Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who registered 63 touches.
This statistic illustrates how disconnected Kulusevski was from the flow of the game, further compounded by his frequent loss of possession, giving the ball away 23 times.
| Dejan Kulusevski’s Stats vs Brighton | Statistic | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 90 | |
| Touches | 55 | |
| Passes Completed | 20/29 (69%) | |
| Duels Won | 4/15 | |
| Possession Lost | 23 | |
| Fouls Committed | 2 | |
| Dribbles Completed | 2/6 |
These figures, provided by SofaScore, highlight how difficult the match was for Kulusevski. His inability to influence the game and his high rate of possession loss significantly contributed to Tottenham’s second-half meltdown.
Given his underwhelming display, it’s clear that Postecoglou will need to reconsider his midfield options moving forward, particularly with an important fixture against West Ham United looming after the international break.
This international break gives Postecoglou an opportunity to reassess his team’s approach, especially after seeing a commanding two-goal lead slip away in the manner it did against Brighton.
If Tottenham hope to bounce back swiftly, addressing the inefficiencies in their squad, particularly in midfield, will be crucial.
Kulusevski’s form must improve, or Postecoglou might need to explore alternative options to strengthen his side’s chances in future matches.
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