For much of the first half of the Premier League season, Tottenham looked like genuine contenders for the top-flight title. However, Spurs season has collapsed in the last few months to the point of their top-four spot now being in danger.
Tottenham’s terrible recent run of form
Tottenham have been on a terrible recent run of form in the Premier League. The north London team has now failed to win their last four top-flight matches. What has been even worse is that they have suffered defeat in three of those four outings.
Their recent away form has been one of their biggest problems, as all three recent league defeats have been away from north London. The solitary point Mauricio Pochettino’s team has gained in their last four league matches was in a 1-1 north London derby draw with Arsenal. Even then Gunners striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a last-gasp penalty kick.
History repeating itself
Tottenham have a history of going through patches like the current one in recent seasons. Most teams go through bad patches in a season, but top teams tend to negotiate them pretty well without losing too much ground on their rivals.
However, Spurs endured a nightmare period every season. The nightmare run is not a specific point of a campaign, but when the north London side go through a bad spell their form is usually woeful.
Tottenham’s bad runs of form have cost them dearly in recent seasons. If they had not gone through those poor spells, then Tottenham may well have won the Premier League title by now in previous seasons.
In the end, they have just not had the mental strength to overcome the poor runs of form to get over the line in title races. A good example is this season. Tottenham are currently 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.
If Spurs would have won the games during their recent poor run of form, they would have had been right in the thick of the title race. However, as it is the north London club could be 18 points behind the Merseysider’s by the end of weekends action.
Tottenham travels to leaders Liverpool this weekend, in a game that looks highly unlikely to change their recent fortunes in the top-flight. A trip to Anfield is probably the worse game an out-of-form Spurs could ask for this weekend.
Fight for a top-four spot
Tottenham have gone from title challengers a few months ago, to a team who are clinging on to a top-four spot in the Premier League. The bookmakers still have Spurs as the third favourites to seal a Champions League spot.
However, the teams below them are now within touching distance. In fact, fourth-place arch-rivals Arsenal could leapfrog them in the table this weekend if the Gunners beat Newcastle and Spurs lose at Anfield. Fifth-place Manchester United could also move level with the north London club.
Tottenham cannot afford to miss out on a top-four position. They have arguably overachieved with the wages and transfer fees paid compared to their rivals. However, they have become a mainstay in the top-flight’s top four in recent seasons and finishing outside the Champions League places this season could prove highly cost to the club from north London.
Will Tottenham finish in the Premier League’s top four this season?
