Jamie Carragher has written off Tottenham's hopes of winning the Premier League title this season
Jose Mourinho's Spurs side topped the table not so long ago but ended 2020 in seventh place - seven points behind leaders Liverpool, though with a game in hand.
Tottenham saw their final fixture of the year against Fulham postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in their opponents' camp.
They kick off 2021 with a home match against Leeds United tomorrow (Saturday, January 2, 12.30pm kick-off).
There is still a long way to go but Carragher does not see Mourinho's men becoming champions of England in 2020-21.
"A couple of weeks ago, Jose Mourinho’s demeanour was such that he could smell the possibility of a title bid," the former Liverpool defender said in his latest Telegraph column.
"Spurs came through a tough run of games and were a couple of seconds from earning a point at Anfield. Since then, a sense of realism has returned.
"Tottenham’s first priority is finishing in the top four, which would be a notable achievement for Mourinho in his first full season at the club.
"They still look a little short of being title winners. But again, I am making that judgement based on a normal season.
"This is not a typical year, and any team with Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min can rattle off a series of wins, in which case title talk might grow again.
"Mourinho knows how to navigate through a season, and the tetchier he becomes in press conferences — and the more willing he is to have a pop at managerial opponents — the more obvious it is he fancies his chances.
"I do not believe Spurs will win the title. They were too negative in recent games against Crystal Palace and Wolves, and that cost them points.
"Jose blamed the players. I don’t buy that. It is how he plays. But they will be closer and more competitive in games against the rest of the top six."
Carragher also raised questions about the signing of Gareth Bale, who returned to Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
"They need more from Gareth Bale to think beyond a top-four place," Carragher added. "Bale has barely figured since his return and is injured again.
"After several years of complaints about unfair treatment from Real Madrid, we are yet to see the evidence that Zinedine Zidane was wrong."
