Saturday results add to Sunday pressure on Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur missed a golden opportunity to make up ground last Sunday as they drew at Newcastle while others around them dropped points. As the Spurs prepare for another Sunday match-up, they do so knowing there is no margin for error as no one they needed to lose lost on Saturday. Tottenham comes into the home game against Manchester United, in 7th place, and needs all three points to stay in shouting distance of Chelsea and that coveted top-four spot.

Tottenham got no help on Saturday

Yes, Manchester City lost, and in theory that opens the door a little for Manchester United and should provide more hope for Tottenham ahead of the Carabao Cup later this month. However, Chelsea and Liverpool, two of the three closest teams to Tottenham both won.

Chelsea had a rather convincing win against Crystal Palace, brushing the Eagles aside 1-4. Following their only loss under coach Thomas Tuchel last weekend against West Brom, it appears those dropped points were more an aberration than an expectation moving forward.

As for Liverpool, they did Liverpool things, as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa at home. It was Liverpool’s first home win in seven matches and helped them get a little revenge against Villa for a thumping earlier this season.

Some points will drop before Spurs play

The one positive is that at least one team in front of Tottenham has to drop points before the Spurs host Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United. West Ham United faces Leicester City in a match-up of the teams currently in 6th and 3rd place in the League.

Catching Leicester may be quite unlikely at this point regardless, someone has to drop points and either way it helps Tottenham in their climb up the table.

Dropping more points may be the end for Tottenham

At this point, the hopes of reaching the top four and earning a Champions League place for next season are small. However, that hope and that opportunity do still exist. However, if Tottenham were to draw or worse lose on Sunday to Manchester United that would likely be the end for Tottenham.

If the Spurs were to lose they would be at best five points out of fourth with only seven matches to play. And nothing at this point in our discussion even considers Everton, who are only two points behind Tottenham with a game in hand.

Of course with a win and some luck, the Spurs could be only four points out of third place, such is this crazy season of football. The one thing we know is that with six teams battling for just two places the race to the finish is on and dropping points means likely dropping out of that race following Saturday’s results.