Spurs keep league leaders Chelsea on tenterhooks

Coach Conte believes six wins from the final eight games will take title to the Bridge

London – Tottenham Hotspur have the chance to exert psychological pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea when they open the weekend programme at home to Watford tomorrow.

An 11th consecutive home league victory in the lunch-time kickoff would cut Chelsea’s lead to four points before Antonio Conte’s side play away at Bournemouth in the day’s late game.

It seemed Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side had blown any chance of reeling in Chelsea when they trailed Swansea City 1-0 in the 88th minute on Wednesday.

But an extraordinary late burst earned them a 3-1 win that kept Chelsea in their sights.

While Chelsea’s gritty 2-1 victory over Manchester

City means it appears to be their title to lose, Tottenham are clearly revelling in the chase, as they did last season in an ultimately futile pursuit of Leicester City.

“I believe that we can win every game if we play like we did against Swansea. We’re still pushing, believing, pressuring Chelsea. It’s important we are showing we learnt from last season,” said Pochettino.

Conte is well aware of the threat posed by Tottenham and believes six wins from their final eight games could be required to keep Pochettino’s in-form side at bay.

Bournemouth, who notched an impressive 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Wednesday, are a tricky obstacle for Chelsea, who a week later travel to Manchester United.

City’s defeat at Stamford Bridge meant Pep Guardiola’s side have gone four games without a win in the league, and a top-four finish is not a formality in the Spaniard’s first season.

They host Hull City tomorrow, needing a victory to maintain their four-point gap over Arsenal and Manchester United, who are fifth and sixth respectively.

Third-placed Liverpool are also looking over their shoulder as they prepare to travel to Stoke City.

Arsenal, bidding for a 21st consecutive top-four finish, are at Crystal Palace on Monday while United, with three draws in their last four games, face bottom club Sunderland on Sunday. –