Tottenham remain two points clear of relegation rivals West Ham after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at home.
Tottenham Hotspur have two games left to save their top-flight status.
West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal on Sunday secured safety for both Leeds United and Nottingham Forest. Now, the relegation face-off is between Spurs and West Ham, with the former missing a glorious opportunity to go four points clear of their London rivals on Monday as they drew 1-1 with Leeds United at home.
Instead, the North Londoners’ wait for a home win goes on, with Roberto De Zerbi and Co. finding themselves in a precarious position heading into the final weeks of the season. Roberto De Zerbi has done very well to ensure that survival is in Tottenham’s hands, though with two games left to be played, the risk of relegation still looms large.
Roberto De Zerbi makes an interesting claim on Tottenham’s draw vs. Leeds United
Leeds United could have a big say in the relegation battle as they follow up a home game against Brighton & Hove Albion next weekend with a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham on the final day of the season. De Zerbi took the chance to encourage the Whites to “play like this against West Ham” when the pair face off later this month, whilst admitting his team did well to gain a point over their relegation rivals.
“I think we have to consider the result, but we have to consider the performance. We played a good game, we are making points, in the last four games we made eight points,” De Zerbi said in an interview with BBC Match of the Day (h/t BBC Sport).
“Congratulations to Leeds, they played a great game, they have to play the last game at West Ham, and we’ve no doubt that they will play the same way.”- De Zerbi on gaining a point over relegation rivals West Ham.
Tottenham still in a good position to stay up
West Ham are next up at Newcastle United on Sunday. Spurs play two days later against bitter rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a fixture delayed by the FA Cup final. On the final day, West Ham are at home against Leeds, and Spurs host Everton.
De Zerbi is right to fear that the Premier League relegation battle will go right down to the wire. His team squandering a chance to go four points clear has reignited the Hammers’ hopes of staying up. Spurs now know that just one slip-up against either Chelsea or Everton could spell disaster, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sitting just two points behind.
West Ham’s previous two games can only be described as calamitous. A 3-0 defeat at Brentford was followed by Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal, two results that removed the two-point cushion the Irons had over us. De Zerbi’s side have picked up seven points from their last three games, whilst marginally improving their goal difference.
So, if the clubs finish level on points on the final day of the campaign, West Ham are almost certain to go down.