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LIVERPOOL. — Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham are not the only side capable of overhauling Leicester City in the English Premier League soccer title race. Pochettino’s side face Liverpool at Anfield today five points behind the leaders with seven games remaining.
And the north London club’s progress this season was underlined by the impact made by four Tottenham players in England’s impressive 3-2 victory in Germany last weekend.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose all impressed and their performances saw praise directed Pochettino’s way for the manner in which he has developed the young players in his squad.
Pochettino, though, is keen to deflect attention away from Tottenham’s position as the main challengers to Claudio Ranieri’s side and attempted to divert the pressure elsewhere in his assessment of the league table.
“For me, at the moment we compete with different teams — not only Leicester, but Arsenal, Manchester City, United, West Ham and Southampton have the possibility (to win the title). It’s mathematically possible,” Pochettino said.
“Seven games is a lot of points. You never know in football. We need to be focused in every game. It’s not just a race between Leicester City and us.”
“I am realistic. In football anything can happen.
“We believe we can win the title, but other teams have the possibility to fight with us. I’m realistic. I’m not polite.
“We’re in a position, a very good position and we cannot compare with another team. We have seven games.
“We need to fight to the end of the season with the possibility to win big things. One is a possibility to win the title, the other to be in the top four.”
Pochettino’s England contingent returned home without any injury problems and Belgium’s Toby Alderweireld has recovered from a stomach bug.
A run of seven matches in 22 days is set to test the resources of Liverpool’s squad to the limit as they attempt to finish a turbulent season with tangible reward.
Defeat at Southampton just before the international break left Jurgen Klopp’s team seven points adrift of the Premier League’s top four with seven matches to play.
Qualification for the Champions League by that route appears an increasingly unlikely prospect and although Liverpool could make it by winning the Europa League, Borussia Dortmund will be daunting opponents in the quarter-finals, as Klopp will know from his seven years managing them.
Liverpool’s boss has attempted to keep his players fresh for the challenges ahead — the squad members who have not been on international duty were taken on a warm-weather training break to Tenerife last week.
Reds midfielder Lucas Leiva suggested that it has helped the players.
“It was brilliant,” he said. “Something like that has never happened before. It’s great credit to the manager for having the idea to take all the players who were not on international duty and the staff as well.
“It was a good chance to take our families, to be closer to each other and know each other better.
“It was a great idea to go out, get a little bit of sun and come back for these last six weeks of the season, which will be very intense.”
Klopp’s side had been building a degree of momentum in the weeks running up to the international break, winning three successive league matches and knocking Manchester United out of the Europa League. That was checked as Liverpool let slip a two-goal lead in losing 3-2 at Southampton, although the team’s attacking talent was showcased with goals for Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.
The quality of defending at St Mary’s will have given encouragement to Harry Kane and company, but Liverpool do have the comfort of history on their side in this fixture — Tottenham have won on just eight of their 80 league and cup visits to Anfield.
Third-placed Arsenal, currently 11 points adrift of Leicester, are still just about in the title race, but Arsene Wenger’s men face Watford today knowing that any more dropped points are likely to spell the end of their hopes.
“Looking at our season so far, we have to be honest and admit that we s*****d up ourselves,” said candid Gunners playmaker Mesut Ozil.
But Aaron Ramsey has leapt to the defence of Arsene Wenger — giving his full support to the under-fire Arsenal manager. Criticism of Wenger has intensified recently as the Gunners’ English Premier League soccer title hopes continue to fade away behind Leicester and bitter rivals Tottenham.
During March Arsenal also bowed out of the FA Cup and Champions League leading to unrest among many supporters calling for the Frenchman’s 20-year reign at the club to come to an end.
It’s not the first time at this part of a season that Wenger’s management at Arsenal has been questioned, but Ramsey is full of confidence about the 66-year-old’s abilities.
“People are entitled to their opinions,” he told Goal. “He’s had criticism in the past, but has dealt with it and I’m sure he will deal with this. He’s done tremendous for this club and has won many things. We all believe in him as players.”
Wenger and Ramsey will be hoping to prove their doubters wrong when they entertain their FA Cup conquerors Watford in the league today.
West Ham will continue their push for a top-four place at home to Crystal Palace today while Manchester United, who also have 50 points, are at home to Everton tomorrow.
Manchester City, clinging on to fourth place, travel to Bournemouth today.
At the other end of the table, basement club Aston Villa welcome Chelsea to Villa Park in their first match since sacking French manager Remi Garde.
Second-bottom Newcastle are at Norwich, just above the relegation zone, in a crunch match for both clubs while Sunderland, also in the bottom three, face West Bromwich Albion.
Fixtures (all 4pm unless stated)
Today: Arsenal v Watford, Aston Villa v Chelsea (1:45pm), Bournemouth v Manchester City, Liverpool v Tottenham (6:30pm), Norwich v Newcastle, Stoke v Swansea, Sunderland v West Brom, West Ham v Crystal Palace
Tomorrow: Leicester v Southampton (2:30pm), Manchester United v Everton (5pm) — AFP.
Online Reporter