SPURS MERIT A TROPHY

I’M not writing Tottenham out of the Premier League title race just yet – or the Champions League for that matter – but today’s cup tie looks huge for them.

The FA Cup is their best shot at a trophy this season.

That’s just logic – although they have to get past Crystal Palace first.

I would like to see Spurs win something. They have a great manager in Mauricio Pochettino (above) and a brilliant young team.

Palace don’t have the best home record this season, so that’s a bonus, but they do have a dangerous team and a great crowd who can create a decent atmosphere.

They have shown against Liverpool and Manchester City in recent weeks how they can punish even the top teams when they slip just a fraction, so it’s no gimme.

Yes, there’s a danger Spurs could go out of two cups in three days.

Yet I admire Tottenham’s desire to win, their courage in picking their strongest side... even if it’s a little born from necessity.

I have always been an advocate of winning breeding confidence, but also of sticking together and generating spirit. It’s a balance. Liverpool have been away sunning themselves while Spurs will have played three matches, and that will keep the Reds fresher. But momentum is a huge thing.

It’s hard to predict what is going to happen in a season.

But if Tottenham go on to win the FA Cup and Liverpool win nothing, who would be right in their approach to resting players?

Likewise, if my old club win the Premier League, then you’d forget completely about a disappointing cup defeat at Wolves in January.

Under the circumstances, I’m hoping both win a trophy this season.