Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up for a crucial away clash against Aston Villa this Sunday, a match that could have significant implications for their Champions League aspirations.
The fixture holds immense importance as it could potentially determine which team secures the coveted 4th spot in the Premier League, thus earning a ticket to Europe’s most elite competition.
Spurs currently trail Villa by 5 points in 5th place, with 50 points, although they have a game in hand.
A weekend win for them could narrow the gap to just two points. If they win their game in hand as well, they could be a point ahead of Villa.
Ahead of the pivotal showdown, former footballer and pundit Paul Merson has weighed in with his prediction for the match.
In his column on Sportskeeda, Merson predicts a closely contested 2-2 draw, emphasising the attacking prowess of both teams and the high stakes involved.
He wrote:
“If Tottenham lose this one, they’ll go eight points behind Aston Villa. They’d still have a game in hand, but this is more of a ‘don’t lose’ kind of game for Ange Postecoglou and his team.
Both teams play such a high line and have a bunch of talented attacking players, so this will be an entertaining game of football.
“If Villa win, I think they’ll put the top-four race to bed, which is honestly an unbelievable feat. I’m looking at their squads and the seasons they’ve had so far, but I just can’t seem to separate them.”
Ange Postecoglou’s side cannot afford any more slip-ups at this stage.
Spurs need to settle the scores themselves in Villa Park; otherwise, they could find themselves 8 points behind Villa in case of a defeat, making a top 4 finish very difficult.
With challenging fixtures on the horizon, including clashes against Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal in quick succession, Spurs must adopt a game-by-game mentality to secure a strong finish to the season.
