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Spurs will hope to continue their resurgence and a late charge towards the UEFA Champions League spots when they take on Leeds United on Saturday. Spurs have managed to chain together a string of good results recently but remain five points outside the top four places.
Tottenham’s Premier League title race was run by December 2020. They were knocked out of the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League by Everton and Dinamo Zagreb, respectively, after the turn of the year. The EFL Cup provided them with one final vestige of hope, but Manchester City ensured that their trophy-less run would continue for another year. With all hopes of silverware gone, the team’s attention is now on finishing in a top-four spot, thus securing a place in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League – a competition every top European club aspires to reach.
Spurs haven’t exactly sprung back to life since the departure of Jose Mourinho last month. They have enjoyed a decent start under Ryan Mason, who is serving as the interim manager until the end of the season, but did lose a cup final recently. Nevertheless, two back-to-back wins in the league have pushed them back into contention for a UCL spot. They are currently sixth in the table, five points behind Chelsea in fourth.
Harry Kane and Co will take on Leeds United next. A win for them, coupled with positive results elsewhere, could prove to be significant. It could potentially push them to fifth and also cut the gap between themselves and Chelsea down to just two points. However, that is if they beat Leeds in their own league match. Bielsa’s team is no pushover. They have performed well in their first season back into the top division and are on track to achieve a top-ten finish.
Key Players
Patrick Bamford: The Englishman continues to lead the line for Marcelo Bielsa’s side as the season heads towards the finish. Those who claimed that Bamford won’t be an effective forward for Leeds in the Premier League have been proven wrong. The ex-Chelsea striker has been one of their most consistent performers this year and remains on track to be crowned as the club’s Player of the Year. He has scored 14 times for his team this season and will be looking to add more before the season finishes.
Stuart Dallas: The 30-year-old midfielder has turned into one of Leeds’ key attacking threats in recent weeks. The Northern Irishman scored twice when Bielsa’s team shocked Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the league recently. He has scored seven times in total this season and has two assists to his name. His runs from midfield are a key part of how Leeds play, often taking the opponent by surprise.
Gareth Bale: The jury is still out on Bale’s second spell at Tottenham. The Welshman returned to the club on loan this season, and after a disappointing start, is finally starting to hit top form in the final stretch. Bale has scored in two of Spurs’ last three matches, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United. He has scored nine times in 16 league appearances this season and has a total of 14 goals to his name across all competitions.
Harry Kane: If Tottenham had had a better season, Kane would’ve been the favorite to be crowned Premier League’s Player of the Year. The Englishman has had a fantastic season individually, even if his team has failed to live up to the high expectations at various points. Kane has hit double figures in both goals and assists in the league. He is currently the competition’s top scorer and top assister, with 21 and 13, respectively.
Prediction
Two wins from two have put Tottenham back in contention for one of the UEFA Champions League places. While Spurs haven’t exactly flourished since the appointment of Ryan Mason as the interim head coach, they are certainly facing the right way again. They remain five points adrift of fourth place, but a win against Leeds United on Saturday could cut the gap to two, provided other results go their way.
Leeds, on the other hand, are looking to break into the top ten. A successful campaign back in the Premier League has seen them avoid immediate relegation and establish themselves in the upper-mid table. A favourable string of results could also see them finish above Arsenal this year, which would be an unprecedented achievement given that they were promoted to the league just this season.
Bielsa’s Leeds are unpredictable. They can beat Manchester City while playing with ten men one week and lose to Brighton the other. Spurs aren’t as volatile, partly because the players they have in the squad bring with them a little certainty. They are the favorites ahead of this match and should be able to secure the three points. However, when it concerns Leeds, you never know.
