Finishing Above Chelsea Would Be Huge For Spurs

The race for the top four is intensifying with ten games to go. Everyone below City has resigned themselves to the fact that they won’t win the league, whilst anyone as far back as fifth can finish second. The logjam behind City has built up and it’s all to play for. Reigning champions Chelsea currently find themselves outside of the coveted top four.

Spurs are keeping Chelsea at bay as the Wembley side sit fourth. Only two points separate them after Chelsea lost to Manchester United. There is a feeling that it will be a fight between these two. It is the type of race that will go down to the wire, and both Chelsea and Spurs have a tricky run-in fixture wise.

Spurs’ toughest task is hosting City at Wembley, where a point would be a good result. Chelsea, meanwhile, will host Liverpool and end the season at St James’ Park. It will be a heated affair, with the Geordies in a relegation scrap. Going to the North East and coming back with three points is anything but a given for Conte’s men. On that evidence, it appears the Blues have a harder end to their season.

With that being the case, the door is definitely open for Spurs, but having an advantage and taking it is definitely not the same thing. The positive thing for Spurs is that they have their destiny in their own hands. Harry Kane’s form during the run-in is imperative in ensuring Spurs don’t fall off the pace.

“Harry Kane scores! North London is ours.” (CC BY 2.0) by Tony Peters

Kane was lauded by Teddy Sheringham this week as the only world-class player England have. Sheringham was speaking about England’s World Cup chances when he alluded to the fact that the Three Lions are short of players of Kane’s ability and will, therefore, struggle in Russia. Sheringham’s comments seemed a bit harsh on the other national players, but the former Spurs striker may well have a point. England are only 16/1 to win the World Cup in international football betting. However, Kane isn’t the only young English player at Spurs who can aid England’s chances. Despite Sheringham not mentioning him in his interview, Dele Alli can boost England’s odds. He has a big part to play for both club and country over the next few months.

Alli’s number 10 role is invaluable to the hopes of any teams he plays in. Should the young Englishman find his form again, Spurs will almost definitely finish in the top four. A strong end to his domestic campaign can only be a positive for England. It may well be on the World Cup stage that Alli announces himself.

“Dele Alli” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by cchana

Tottenham Hotspur’s fixture list and quality within the squad gives them a slight advantage. The importance of finishing above Chelsea can’t be stressed enough. By doing so, Spurs would be London’s most successful side of the 2017/2018 season. The benefits of reaching that milestone would be felt for years to come. If Spurs want to escape from out of the shadows of Arsenal and Chelsea then the time is now.