Brighton stun Kane-less Spurs; Liverpool back in groove

Tottenham struggled without the creativity and cutting edge of injured striker Harry Kane in a 1-0 loss at Brighton on Sunday, leaving Jose Mourinho’s team six points off the Premier League’s top four.

Leandro Trossard scored the winner for fourth-from-last Brighton in the 17th minute, side-footing home a finish from inside the area after a cut-back from the right by Pascal Gross. It was Brighton’s first home win in 15 league games dating back to June 2020.

Kane was missing after injuring both ankles in the 3-1 loss to Liverpool on Thursday and his absence - for a ‘few weeks,’ according to Mourinho - could be crucial in Tottenham’s bid to keep in touch with their rivals for Champions League qualification.

“In the first half, I felt the team was probably too sad with the goal conceded and the situation,” Mourinho said. “There was a lack of energy. In the last 25, 30 minutes they gave everything but, of course, with some limitations.

“The boys showed great spirit in the second half and the boys showed they are suffering and they tried to fight against that sadness.”

Gareth Bale replaced Kane in the Spurs attack for his first start in 12 weeks, but the on-loan Real Madrid forward squandered possession regularly and looked off the pace before being substituted in the 61st minute.

Tottenham has won only three of their last 13 league games without Kane.

Brighton was the likelier scorer of a second goal at Amex Stadium, with Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld needing to produce a sliding block near his goal line to clear a goal-bound shot from substitute Aaron Connolly in the final minutes.

Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister also hit the post in the first half for Brighton, which moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Tottenham stayed sixth, ahead of Chelsea and Everton on goal difference. Chelsea travels to Tottenham for a league match on Thursday.

Salah ends EPL drought: Mohamed Salah ended his Premier League goal drought in style as the Egypt star produced two superb finishes to inspire Liverpool’s 3-1 win at West Ham on Sunday, while Tottenham struggled without the creativity and cutting edge of injured striker Harry Kane in a 1-0 loss at Brighton.

Salah had gone six league games without scoring until he broke West Ham’s resistance in the second half with his first goal in the competition since December.

The 28-year-old followed that fine strike with another eye-catching effort and his masterclass ensured Liverpool made it two successive league wins.

Salah is the first player to score at least 20 goals in all competitions in four consecutive seasons for Liverpool since Ian Rush in the 1980s.

Georginio Wijnaldum grabbed Liverpool’s third as Jurgen Klopp’s side moved above Leicester into third place.

Liverpool are four points adrift of leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and one behind second placed Manchester United.

After five league games without a win, the champions showed signs of emerging from their winter slump in Thursday’s 3-1 success at Tottenham and this was another step in the right direction.

Liverpool’s previous away league wins this season had come at Chelsea and Crystal Palace and they inflicted more capital punishment on West Ham in their latest trip to London.

West Ham had won their last six games in all competitions and were unbeaten in their last six league matches.

Agencies