Shell-shocked City brace for Spurs test
BURNLEY: DYCHE’S SIDE CLOSE TO EUROPA LEAGUE SPOT
After suffering three defeats in a week, including a Champions League exit, leaders Manchester City get back to business in the Premier League tomorrow but face another tough test at fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
City could have wrapped up the title with a win at home to Manchester United last Saturday but threw away a two-goal lead to suffer their first home loss of the campaign, falling 3-2 to Jose Mourinho’s side.
That game was sandwiched between the two legs of their Champions League quarterfinal against Liverpool where City suffered a 3-0 loss at Anfield and then a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad.
For all the anguish of the past week though, City remain 13 points clear with six games remaining and would clinch the title with a win over Spurs at Wembley combined with a United defeat at home to bottom club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Spurs away is never an easy task, given Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lost just once at home this season.
While City will be keen to get the title wrapped up as soon as possible, Spurs have their eye on a strong finish to the campaign as they target second place.
They trail United by four points after picking up six straight wins in an unbeaten run of 14 games.
“We have the quality, the right spirit and the experience in the Premier League,” said captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. “We show character and ambition because there is still second place to play for.”
United, on a high after their derby win, will expect to pick up another three points at Old Trafford against a West Brom side that looks doomed for the drop.
Seventh-placed Burnley and Leicester, eighth, clash at Turf Moor in a game that could go a long way to determining who gets the final Europa League place.
Unless Southampton win the FA Cup, the seventh-placed side will earn qualification for Europe as the other three potential Cup winners – Spurs, United and Chelsea – should already have booked their places in continental competition.
Victory for Sean Dyche’s Burnley would move them nine points clear of Leicester.