Can Tottenham compete with slow-starting top four contenders?

Tottenham Hotspur have been looking to break into the top four for each of the past couple of seasons, falling short on each occasion since Harry Redknapp guided them into the UEFA Champions League in 2009-10

This side has had plenty of investment over the past couple of seasons and now the manager is as tactically sound as they have been for a while.

However, it’s been an inconsistent start from the North London club, winning only one of their last five since starting the season with back-to-back victories.

Despite only three wins from their first seven, they head into the weekend’s fixtures only outside of the top four on goal difference.

However, a number of the pre-season favourites to compete for the top four places have made a slow start. You may be interested to view the London club in action as they battle for the top four and book Tottenham tickets here.

Chelsea and Manchester City are really the only exceptions and they are the early favourites to take the top two spots.

Arsenal certainly haven’t been consistent and have been hampered by injuries. Should Arsène Wenger’s side get the most of their players back they will be a much stronger contender.

Manchester United picked up two points from their opening three fixtures but it’s been nine points from their next four since. Louis van Gaal’s side are blessed with a wealth of attacking options but defensively they have started poorly.

We will be halfway through the season when the January transfer window opens to give both Arsenal and Manchester United the opportunity to add to their defences.

Between then and now gives the likes of Tottenham to put some form together and get ahead of their competitors.

Tottenham are already ahead of last season’s runners-up Liverpool who have made a slow start to the season. Brendan Rodgers’ side certainly look downgraded since the sale of Luis Suárez, but this was expected.

The Reds looked impotent without Daniel Sturridge in September but with the England international set to return you have to expect them to find their form again.

Meanwhile Everton after finishing fifth last season have made a horrible start to the season with only one victory in seven leaving them in the bottom four. Roberto Martínez’s side already have a lot of catchup work in hand.

So can Tottenham finish in the top four this season? The early signs aren’t great. Pochettino’s side haven’t defended too well – beaten at home by both Liverpool and West Brom already. Emmanuel Adebayor’s only goal came in a 4-0 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers.

Tottenham have a lot of work to do if they’re to break into the top four this season.