Does anyone in the Premier League want to finish fourth and play in the Champions League?
Aston Villa and Tottenham are undoubtedly doing everything they can to hand the initiative to one other.
Tottenham lost 3-0 at Fulham before the international break, just a week after defeating Aston Villa, much to the chagrin of their fans.
Spurs shot themselves in the foot by failing to go ahead of their top-four rivals in the race for Champions League football.
Aston Villa did the same on Saturday, drawing 3-3 at home to Brentford despite leading 2-0 at the start of the second half.
Tottenham, who have two games in hand ahead of their home game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday evening, are presently three points behind and with a +1 goal difference.
You’d think the ball is now in their court, and they should get past this fourth spot before the final ball is kicked in May.
According to Premier League Productions (06/04/24 at 8:25 pm), Tim Sherwood believes Ange Postecoglou’s team ‘wouldn’t have conceded’ like Villa did against the Bees.
The former title-winning midfielder also believes Tottenham are’more on the front foot’ and possess’more firepower’ than Unai Emery’s side.
Battle for Champions League football
“I think Aston Villa are getting nervous, there is a big prize at the end of this and they know Tottenham are chasing them for fourth place,” Sherwood told the BBC.
“I do not believe they will get it. I honestly don’t. Two of my former teams. However, I believe Tottenham are more aggressive, confident, and have more firepower. “I just don’t think they would have conceded like that.”
Spurs’ remaining games
The Premier League has officially released the dates for Tottenham’s final run-in, which will see them face Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool in the space of a week.
This is going to be a major week in the Premier League.
Not only for Spurs, but in the title battle and the quest for European football, there is a lot at stake.
If Spurs do not drop points between now and that week, they will know that maximum points are not required from those games.
Furthermore, their final two games will be against Burnley and Sheffield United, both of whom are expected to be down by that point, so this is now firmly in their hands.
