Tottenham can move into the top four with win over West Ham United
By Aaron Coe
In what has already been a topsy turvy season for Tottenham Hotspur, who started fast and faded faster, a win on Sunday can put Spurs back into the top four.
It seems so possible, yet so unlikely. After winning three straight to start the season and holding first place to themselves, to think Spurs could be in the top four after nine matches did not seem a stretch. Alternatively, after losing three straight London derbies by a combined score of 1-9 and dropping into the bottom half of the table, even thinking about the top four seemed a bit silly.
Now, after managing two straight wins in the Premier League after a Saturday where many of their rivals for Europe lost points, Tottenham Hotspur can get back into the top four with a win at West Ham.
Some results favored Spurs on Saturday
One thing about playing on Sunday is that you already have a marker laid from the Saturday games. If Tottenham wants to try and keep pace with the top teams – Chelsea and Manchester City – three points is the only option. Chelsea and City won Saturday by a combined score of 11-1.
And while those two powerhouses won again, some of the teams around Spurs did drop points. Brighton was easily handled 1-4 by City leaving the Gulls even with Tottenham on 15 points but still ahead on goal differential for fourth place.
Everton and Wolverhampton are each less than a game away from Tottenham, but the Wolves drew at Leeds and Everton capitulated at home to Watford in a bad 2-5 loss. Although Arsenal won on Friday and are just a point back, Tottenham actually did not move spots in the table from the action on Saturday and actually halved their goal differential deficit with Brighton.
Saturday results only matter if Tottenham wins on Sunday
Of course, some results favoring Spurs on Saturday only matter if Tottenham can manage to win on Sunday. If Tottenham can win, at worst they are in sole possession of 4th place, at least a point if not more above fifth.
Depending on results elsewhere, Spurs could actually even be tied with Liverpool on 18 points, if the Reds lose to Manchester United. While goal differential would likely still be a deciding factor in Liverpool’s favor – the Red’s are currently +16 to Tottenham’s -3 – on points alone they would be equal.
If Tottenham loses, West Ham will definitely pass them in the table as could Manchester United and Brentford. Meaning Spurs could be as low as eighth in the table by the end of Sunday’s action.
Clearly, fourth place is a heck of a lot better than eighth and after the rough patch, fourth place would be a good position to be in with Machester United on the horizon. After a rest during the week, Spurs starting XI should be up for the challenge and out of excuses.
Ultimately, we are going to learn a lot about Tottenham on Sunday, can Spurs man up and beat a good team on the road in a game that matters. If they can, maybe Nuno and company will surprise us this year yet. If not, well, that would be just more of the same.