Tottenham Hotspur overturned a half-time deficit to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 and win the first Premier League game of a busy Boxing Day.
Adam Webster scored Brighton's opener, leaping highest to meet a superb Pascal Gross cross and head home after 37 minutes, but goals from Harry Kane and Dele Alli in 19 second-half minutes sealed all three points for Spurs.
Positives
After a damaging defeat to Chelsea on Sunday, many would have expected Spurs to struggle once again today after going into half-time trailing 1-0, but the hosts were clinical in front of goal with their limited opportunities, and were patient in their pursuit of a second half breakthrough.
Negatives
There were poor performances across the pitch, and an overall lack of rhythm going forward made it almost impossible to create many chances against a well-organised Brighton backline.
Manager rating out of 10
6 -- It's now just one clean sheet for Spurs since Jose Mourinho took charge in north London, and the ease at which Brighton were able to carve out opportunities in the first half means there is work to do in the training ground in the coming days.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Paulo Gazzaniga, 6 -- Had no chance against Webster's excellent header, but wasn't seriously tested apart from the goal.
DF Serge Aurier, 7 -- The right back was often Spurs' most reliable outlet in a first half lacking creative inspiration, and the Ivorian put in a typically busy display.
DF Toby Alderweireld, 6 -- The Belgian lost the vital aerial dual against Webster as the visiting centre-back headed home the opener, and it wasn't a comfortable day for the Spurs defence generally.
DF Davinson Sanchez, 6 -- Struggled to get to grips with lone Brighton forward, Aaron Connolly and was booked for pulling back the Irishman as he looked to get away from the defender.
DF Jan Vertonghen, 6 -- A steady afternoon's work on the defender's 300th appearance for the club.
MF Harry Winks, 6 -- Provided a glorious pass for a Kane goal that was ultimately disallowed by VAR in the first half, before being booked for taking out Brighton's Ezequiel Scheletto. Will miss the trip to Norwich as a result.
MF Moussa Sissoko, 5 -- Often dallied on the ball and ran into cul-de-sacs as he looked to charge through the Brighton midfield, before a needless booking in the closing stages that means he'll join Winks on the sidelines through suspension for the next game.
MF Lucas Moura, 7 -- The Brazilian had his sloppy moments in possession in a difficult first half, but was a man on a mission in the second period as he hurried the opposition into mistakes and made a series of driving runs, including one that led to Kane's equalizer. Replaced by Eric Dier shortly after being booked on 74 minutes.
MF Dele Alli, 6 -- It was a largely poor afternoon for the England international, who was mostly anonymous as an attacking force, but his first-time finish from Aurier's knockdown to win the game was simply superb.
MF Ryan Sessegnon, 5 -- Should have hit the target in the opening five minutes after getting on the end of a teasing Kane cross, and the former Fulham man struggled to impose himself on the game, before being replaced by Giovani Lo Celso after 55 minutes.
FW Harry Kane, 6 -- Denied an opener midway through the first half by the most marginal of VAR offside calls, but wasn't to be denied a goal as he volleyed home a second-half equalizer after his initial shot was well saved by Brighton stopper Mat Ryan.
Substitutes
Giovani Lo Celso, 6 -- Started his cameo with plenty of intent but was the Argentine was loose in possession.
Christian Eriksen, 6 -- Gave his side a much-needed sprinkling of composure in an often scrappy Spurs midfield.
Eric Dier, N/A -- Shored things up in midfield.