‘Tough games’ – Former Spurs and Aston Villa manager makes his top-four prediction

Tim Sherwood still considers Tottenham Hotspur the favourites to clinch fourth place, adding that Champions League qualification would be a major achievement for Ange Postecoglou’s men this season.

Many Spurs fans would have hoped when the Lilywhites thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 at Villa Park a couple of weeks ago that it might be a defining blow in the race for fourth.

They would have perhaps expected Spurs to build on that momentum and go on a good run, but that was not to be, with the North London side delivering one of their poorest performances of the season at Craven Cottage last Saturday and falling to a 3-0 loss.

Thankfully for Tottenham, the Villans could not take full advantage of their slip-up, being held to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium the next day, which means that Spurs now sit three points behind Unai Emery’s men with a game in hand.

Are Tottenham favourites to finish fourth?

Manchester United will feel that they are still in the race, with the Red Devils currently sitting six points below Tottenham, but Sherwood believes that despite their disappointing performance against Fulham, his former side are the favourites to secure the final guaranteed Champions League spot.

The pundit told Premier League Productions: “If you ask Tottenham about finishing fourth in the league it’s like Man City winning the league it’s that good from where they’ve been.

“We’ve seen managers there like Conte, Nuno and Jose, they put 10 men behind the ball and fans are leaving with 10 minutes to go. You have to put it down as a bad day at the office, I still put them down as the favourites for the top four, they have some tough games, but so do Aston Villa.”

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There is no doubt that finishing fourth would represent an extremely successful season for Postecoglou, given the challenges he has had to deal with since arriving at the club. It would potentially prove a springboard to push on and challenge the likes of Man City and Liverpool next season.

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