Poch: Spurs must put pressure on Chelsea

Chelsea will be almost impossible to catch at the summit of the Premier League if they win their double header against Liverpool and Arsenal, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes.

Pochettino, whose Tottenham side face bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at the Stadium of Light tonight, is likely to have one eye on how Chelsea fare at Liverpool.

Antonio Conte’s side will see their title credentials firmly tested, first at Anfield, and then five days later when they host rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

But Pochettino believes victory in both matches could be enough for Chelsea to clinch the title.

“If we win both of our games against Sunderland and then Middlesbrough, we keep the same gap to Chelsea and there are lots of games ahead,” Pochettino said.

“We will see what happens, but if Chelsea are able to win both games it will be difficult to stop them.

“I think we need to be focused on our game,, and it’s not a decisive one. The most important thing is to get the three points for us.”

Pochettino will welcome back striker Harry Kane for their visit to Sunderland.

Kane, who has netted 15 times this season, was among nine changes made by Pochettino for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup last Saturday.

Trailing 3-2 with only seconds remaining, Spurs looked set to be on the end of a huge cup shock.

But substitute Deli Alli drew the hosts level in the 89th minute before Son Heung-min netted the winner with the virtually last kick of the game.

“A lot of things can happen around a team and you sometimes need to take decisions,” said Pochettino as he explained why he rested so many key players for the fourth-round tie.

“It’s easy to criticise, and maybe some people that criticise our decision, if they are in our position would do the same. The fans want to win, the players too, but sometimes for many reasons it’s too difficult.

“I think England is special for that situation. In Spain and France it is different. If you make changes for Copa del Rey or Coupe de France it’s okay, but here if you don’t win you are dead.

“We are now in a good position in the FA Cup, the Europa League, and the Premier League. We will try to manage the three competitions and try in the end to be successful in all three, two, or one.”

Pochettino is yet to add to his squad this month, and the Argentinian does not expect any new faces before the window closes at midnight on Tuesday.

”It’s 0.01 per cent the possibility to sign (a player),” Pochettino said. ”We are happy with the squad, I am happy, and I think in the next four months we will be all right until May.

”We are involved in three competitions, and it’s up to us to finish well and try to achieve our objectives.”