When the Premier League season took an intermission to make room for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Tottenham Hotspur were well positioned on all fronts.
Admittedly, they had suffered a disappointing defeat against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup, but they had just topped a difficult-looking UEFA Champions League group courtesy of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s last-minute winner in Marseille, and they were well positioned in the Premier League also.
But since Lionel Messi climbed his final peak in Qatar with World Cup victory, and the Tottenham squad reconvened for the second half of their season, things haven’t gone according to plan.
Spurs were dumped out of the FA Cup by second-tier Sheffield United at the start of March, and a week later, AC Milan were eliminating them from the Champions League. In the Premier League, things haven’t been going much better either.
A 3-3 draw away at relegation-threatened Southampton means that Spurs have won just one of their last three and they are dropping valuable points in the race for the top four. Online bookmakers such as https://www.bovada.lv/ still make the North London club the favorites to secure a Champions League qualifying position but with a number of top teams hot on their tail, a spot in the top four is by no means guaranteed.
With teams such as Newcastle United, Liverpool, Brighton, and Brentford all in Champions League contention and with a number of difficult tests on the horizon, Spurs’ season looks to be on the verge of turning into a disappointment.
The Coming Months
Between now and the end of the season, Tottenham have a number of difficult tests in the horizon, and they are tests that the club will have to perform well in if they are to ensure their season ends up as something resembling a success.
As things stand, they are currently two points clear of Newcastle United in fourth place, but the Magpies have two games in hand on Antonio Conte’s men. Those two will face off on April 23rd at St. James’ Park, and the match is shaping up to be the definition of a six-pointer in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification.
Four days on from that, Spurs will travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Erik ten Hag’s resurgent Manchester United, the team that ended a six-year trophy hiatus with the Carabao Cup. Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils were clinging onto a spot in the title race by the skin of their teeth, however, a 7-0 defeat to Liverpool and a 0-0 draw at home against Southampton has left them 16 points behind league leaders Arsenal and their title charge looks over.
They are only a point ahead of Spurs as things stand, but they do have two games in hand on their rivals from London. But unlike Spurs, Manchester United are still alive in both the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League, and if that remains the case next month, Spurs must be able to take advantage of any fatigue in the United squad.
And things don’t get any easier following the tussle with United as three days later, Tottenham Hotspur will head north to face Liverpool at Anfield in the third of three consecutive six-pointers.
Just as United may be fatigued when they face off with Spurs, Liverpool may also be somewhat disheartened. They were recently eliminated from the Champions League following a 6-2 aggregate drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid, and they are currently languishing in 6th in the Premier League table. If they are unable to restore some kind of consistency, Spurs may well take full advantage.
The fact remains that the week commencing April 23rd will make or break Tottenham’s season. Win all three of those aforementioned fixtures and Spurs are a shoo-in for the top four. Lose them, and they may be out of contention entirely.
An Easy Looking Run In
If Antonio Conte’s side can come through those three six-pointers relatively unscathed, then a seventh UEFA Champions League campaign in eight seasons will be a very real probability.
A week on from their Liverpool test, Spurs will face off against Crystal Palace in a London Derby. The Eagles have recently parted ways with manager Patrick Vieira and relegation looks like a possibility at Selhurst Park.
A week later, Spurs travel to Aston Villa. The Villains don’t have much to pay for as things stand, they are in 11th place in the Premier League table with no fear of being relegated but also no fear of challenging for a spot in Europe either.
Spurs may well be able to take full advantage of a Villa side that could very well be mentally already on the beach.
In the penultimate game of the season, another London Derby takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Brentford. Thomas Frank’s men have been exceeding expectations all year long and they are currently on the hunt for a first-ever spot in European next season.
Then, on the final day, Leeds United face Spurs at Elland Road. The Whites are another side that are locked in a relegation battle, and Conte will be hoping his side has already secured a spot in the top four as the Yorkshire club will be doing anything they can to maintain their Premier League status.
