All eyes on Spurs to beat Chelsea

TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino believes rival Premier League managers and fans want his team to win when they tackle leaders Chelsea at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

With Chelsea six points clear, Pochettino thinks Liverpool, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs will be hoping for a Spurs’ victory to stop Antonio Conte’s team widening the gap at the top.

Furthermore, the Argentine said it would be good for the league as a whole, as well as for Tottenham, if Chelsea failed to set a new record of 14 successive Premier League victories in a single season.

“I think it’s important for the Premier League and for us to try to win and try to stop them and reduce the gap because in the end for us the challenge is to try to be at the top,” Pochettino said after his side’s 4-1 win at Watford on Sunday.

Last season, the situations were reversed, with many neutrals wanting Tottenham to falter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge so unlikely contenders Leicester City could take the title.

Their wishes were granted as a 2-2 draw delivered the championship to the King Power Stadium.

“Yes, maybe we will feel how Leicester felt last season when all the teams were with them and against us,” Pochettino said.

“Maybe they felt the same as us last season.”

But he warned it would be tough for Tottenham.

The win at Watford was a perfect warm-up, effectively decided by half time when Spurs led 3-0 despite the absences of suspended duo Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker.

Both will be available to face Chelsea.