Jamie Carragher: Tottenham need to beat Chelsea to retain title hopes
Monday 2 January 2017 11:13, UK
Jamie Carragher says Tottenham are better than last season, but their title hopes might be over if they fail to beat Chelsea on Wednesday.
Mauricio Pochettino's side followed up Wednesday's 4-1 victory at Southampton with a win at Watford by the same scoreline on New Year's Day to move back into the top four with 19 games played.
Coincidentally, Spurs won at Watford in their 19th game of last season to move onto 35 points, four points behind then-leaders Arsenal.
This season they are four points better off, but are 10 adrift of leaders Chelsea and Carragher says it's essential they cut that gap to seven when they host Antonio Conte's side in their next match, live on Sky Sports 1.
The Sky Sports expert said: "I go back to a year ago with Spurs and I remember they played Watford around the same time, Christmas time.
"That was the first time I felt, maybe in my memory of watching football, that Spurs had a chance of winning the league.
"Last year they had less points, but they were only four points off the top. They've now got more points and we are saying they are a better team with the younger players maturing.
"But the gap between themselves and Chelsea is the worry for them.
"If they are thinking of the title, even though it's only half-way through the season, they've got to beat Chelsea because the gap is still 10 points.
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"It's not just Spurs, the whole league now is completely different.
"What's been shown in the Southampton game and Watford with the ease Spurs have won by is how far ahead the top six are from the rest of the league.
"Last season you weren't quite sure going to an away ground, but now you're very confident that any of the top six, wherever they go, there's a good chance they are going to get the three points.
"That's how it's flipped on its head and that's been the problem for Spurs."
Harry Kane and Dele Alli scored two goals each as Tottenham thumped Watford and Carragher was impressed by the performances of the England internationals.
But he says one of them will need to develop into a world-class talent if Tottenham are to win the Premier League.
"I said before the game Spurs maybe lack one real superstar that will take them to a title, that one player," he added.
"But the players we are talking about are very close to being superstars. I think Dele Alli will get there and Harry Kane can go up against almost any striker in the Premier League.
"They are the two that are very close to making the step where you'd say 'could they become one of the best players in the league?'
"That's what I think would take a Tottenham side to the title."
