da bwin： Amidst the excitement of the Leicester City story, Tottenham Hotspur are the other shock name surprisingly battling for the title.
da cassino online： While the Foxes are clearly the story of the season, perhaps it is easy to forget just how incredible it is to see Spurs challenging for the Premier League crown.
All season they have been arguably the most competitive in the league, losing just three times so far. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has transformed a side that were utterly lethargic in post Gareth Bale era, into perhaps the most industrious team out there.
The high pressing style and work ethic shows no signs of slowing down, as the host of young players currently plying their trade at White Hart Lane continue to impress.
It’s a huge departure from the Spurs sides of the past, who have often being accused of falling at the final hurdle. The ‘nearly men’ of the Premier League. With arch rivals Arsenal currently doing their best to fulfil that role, it is the white side of North London who are keeping the pace with Leicester City.
History, of course, has taught us to approach all things Spurs related with an air of caution, though you’d be forgiven for thinking things could be a little different this time.
Still, there’s still a lot to play for. A lot to win. A lot to lose. With that in mind, here are FIVE fixtures that could make or break Tottenham’s title challenge…
VS ARSENAL (HOME) – MARCH 5
The North London derby is always one of the showpieces of the season, though few ties in recent memory have as hefty implications as this one.
With Spurs just three points off Leicester in top spot, they can all but end their fierce rivals’ title challenge with a win over them at White Hart Lane.
Beating the Gunners would be as important symbolically as it would be mathematically, with the momentum a win over your rivals, who historically have the edge over you, the sort of thing that could spark a title win.
Arsenal will feel the pressure and are prone to a slip up more often than not, it’s up to this young Spurs side to keep their heads.
VS LIVERPOOL (AWAY) – 2 APRIL
As Liverpool battled for the Premier League title back in the 2013/14 season, they battered a flat Spurs side 4-0 at Anfield at a similar stage of the season.
Ok, so the Reds famously failed to win the title that season, though a win on Merseyside is another for symbolism. That Luis Suarez inspired side were a high pressing as Spurs are today, though far less organised if truth be told.
In many ways, Liverpool then and Tottenham now share a lot of similarities. When a dismal North London outfit were blown apart that day, we got a real sense that the Reds might just do it.
Beating Liverpool on their home soil in a similar manner they were disposed of would truly send out a message of clear intent with so little of the campaign left.
VS MAN UNITED (HOME) – 10 APRIL
Not long after the encounter of Merseyside, Manchester United roll into town as the fixtures come thick and fast.
Few could have imagined that when the Red Devils beat an impressive, yet frustrating, Spurs side on the opening day of the season that the latter would go on to challenge for the title.
That loss, with every passing result, looks ever more baffling. Though the struggles dogging Louis van Gaal are well documented, beating Manchester United is still a big deal.
United could still throw a spanner in the works, as they proved on Sunday against Arsenal. Especially if Marcus Rashford is playing….
VS STOKE (AWAY) – 18 APRIL
While the theme of this piece so far has been about Spurs’ clashes with the so called ‘big boys’, though both Liverpool and Man United struggle to fill that role right now, the game away at Stoke could prove to be a make or break tie.
Clearly, the Potters have evolved under Mark Hughes and are now much more of a footballing threat since the Tony Pulis day. Still, that doesn’t make the Britannia any more of an easier place to go.
Manchester City found that out the hard way, while Arsenal were frustrated no end during their outing in Staffordshire recently.
It’s all well and good beating the big names, but carving out a result away at Stoke is a necessity for anyone serious about title glory.
VS CHELSEA (AWAY) – 2 MAY
If you want to be the champions, you have to beat the champions. It’s as simple as that.
When Spurs romped to a 5-3 victory over the Blues, who were then atop the Premier League, we began to wonder just how good this side could become.
A taster of what was to come from Pochettino’s men, who are still flourishing under the Argentine.
To beat Chelsea in their own backyard with just a game left to play could be a watershed moment for all those involved at White Hart Lane.
The problems in West London appear to be subsiding somewhat as their nightmare season continues to level out at the very least.
Hosting Spurs in the penultimate game of the campaign, and Leicester in the last, the champions may yet have the biggest say in who usurps them.