After what has been an erratic and volatile start to the 2020/21 season, it’s only now that the Premier League table is starting to settle into something of an established order. Liverpool are once again top of the standings, while Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Brighton lifted Jose Mourinho’s side up into second place, although they dropped to third with Leicester's win over Leeds on Monday night.
The opening-day defeat by Everton hinted at a difficult campaign to come for Spurs, but the response since then has been remarkable. Mourinho’s men have now gone six Premier League games without defeat, with the form of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in particular leading many to suggest Spurs could mount a title challenge.
Tottenham’s squad is stronger than it has been for a long time. While Mauricio Pochettino got more out of his team, achieving four successive top-four finishes and leading Spurs to a Champions League final, it could be argued Mourinho’s current squad is stronger on paper after six new additions in the summer transfer window.
This weekend’s fixture against West Bromwich Albion gives Tottenham the chance to consolidate their progress over the last few weeks, with the Baggies among the favourites to suffer relegation this season. Mourinho’s side should have no trouble in claiming a comfortable three points.
After that, though, comes a stretch of games that could go some way to defining Spurs’ whole season.
After the international break, Tottenham host Manchester City. Then it’s a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea and a north London derby at home to Arsenal. The away match against Crystal Palace on December 12 offers some sense of respite, but the trip to Anfield for a clash against Liverpool four days later will be another test of Tottenham’s title credentials.
The tricky fixtures don’t stop there. Spurs host Leicester City, who leapfrogged the north London side into second place with a 4-1 away win over Leeds United on Monday night, on December 19.
Even after that, Tottenham have a challenging away day at Molineux against Wolves. It won’t be until after Christmas that Spurs will be able to breathe a bit more easier with games against Fulham, Leeds United, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.
Mourinho now has a squad that allows him to play a number of different ways depending on the task at hand and the opposition in front of him. Against City, Spurs will likely have to accept they will see less of the ball, but Mourinho has the attacking talent to expose Pep Guardiola’s men, particularly in the full-back positions.
Spurs might have to repeat the game plan against Chelsea, but could face a high press in the north London derby against Arsenal. Manchester United struggled to cope with this on Sunday, with their attack suffocated by the midfielders’ inability to move the ball up the pitch. The onus will be on the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele to bypass the Arsenal press.
In Gareth Bale, Kane and Son, Spurs boast one of the most potent frontlines in the Premier League. The midfield has a good balance, while the addition of Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilon has replenished Tottenham in the full-back positions.
If Mourinho’s team has a weak point, it’s surely in central defence where Eric Dier has been favoured alongside Toby Alderweireld of late.
The three fixtures against City, Chelsea and Arsenal in particular could shape Tottenham’s season. If Mourinho is able to guide his side through those games without suffering much damage, Spurs will be entitled to feel they are title challengers.
We, and Mourinho himself, will learn a lot about the group of players at Tottenham over the next month or so.
