Tuesday 19 April 2016 18:54, UK
With just four games standing between Leicester or Tottenham and an historic first Premier League crown, we analyse the run-ins as the title race nears a tantalising climax.
Who'd have thought it? Leicester and Tottenham fighting for their first Premier League title, with the so-called top flight superpowers out of the running with four games to go.
Leicester's annus mirabilis shows no sign of relenting, despite West Ham's best efforts in the thrilling 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, but Spurs made a real statement of intent at Stoke in the Monday Night Football - leaving a firm reminder that this title race is anything but over.
Mauricio Pochettino's men are five points behind the Foxes, but more importantly have real momentum behind their title push after the 4-0 demolition of the Potters in Staffordshire, and their breathtaking late show against Manchester United last week.
Can Spurs break Foxes' hearts? We take a closer look at the run-in to decipher who has the best chance of snatching glory.
With the gap still formidable, the title is still Leicester's to lose. Their remaining fixtures are tough, but they've overcome plenty of obstacles to get this far.
While not being the force of old, Manchester United (a), Everton (h) and Chelsea (a) will be no pushovers, with United especially with everything to play for in pursuit of a top-four spot.
Swansea represent a perfect opportunity to get some points on the board in this week's Super Sunday clash, as Francesco Guidolin's men are all but safe and were swept aside by imperilled Newcastle last time out.
Spurs also play two of their final three games on the road, with trips to Chelsea and Newcastle sandwiching their home clash with Southampton.
Newcastle could well be fighting for their lives on the final day as they look to secure a spot in next season's most lucrative of Premier Leagues.
Three appearances on Monday Night Football has its pros and cons. The pressure increases week on week, as Spurs know the consequences of a result more clearly playing after the Foxes, but that intensified scrutiny didn't seem to be an issue at the Britannia.
Absentees
Both sides have been fortunate with injuries of late, with no big-name stars out for a lengthy period - unusual towards the business end of a grueling campaign.
However, the fate of Jamie Vardy's disciplinary hearing into his actions towards referee Jon Moss at the weekend could be a deciding factor in the title race.
The England striker has been one of the standout performers for the Foxes, and should his one-game ban be extended, then Leicester could lack a real element of dynamism that is crucial when it matters most.
What they say
After seeing his side put in one of their best showings of the season at Stoke, Pochettino could not hide his delight, insisting his players would fight to the finish.
"I have a squad that feels the passion for the game and they deserve the praise and full credit for the season," Pochettino said. "We are still fighting. Our dream is to fight and put pressure on Leicester."
Claudio Ranieiri has kept his cool throughout and did not change tack amid the controversy of Sunday's draw with the Hammers.
"If some players don't play well or make mistakes," Ranieri said. "I speak with them and we try to improve their performance. The referee is not my matter. [My team were] fantastic, fantastic. We play every match with our soul - blood, heart and soul and it was magnificent."
Jamie Carragher tried to put into context the magnitude of what an achievement it would be for Leicester, but also waxed lyrical about a vibrant Spurs.
"The top four was normally set in stone, certainly when I was playing," Carragher said. "No one ever made a fist for that. This, to think where they've come from, could be the biggest story in football we've ever seen.
"I was expecting Spurs to go back to being challenging for top four [next season], but the more I watch this team, I think in terms of years to come, this is going to be a side that's challenging for the title."
Conclusion
The cliched "foregone conclusion" has reared its ugly head in recent weeks, with Leicester holding such a commanding lead, but even after just one draw and a super Spurs riposte, the title race is hot topic yet again.
It is obviously still very much in Leicester's hands, needing eight points from four games to guarantee the title, but with Vardy's pending absence and some imposing fixtures to come, it is far from over.
In reality, with so much at stake, both will likely drop points along the way, so expect plenty of twists and turns, but with the holy grail in sight, it will take a seismic shift for Leicester to be caught from here.
Who do you think has the toughest run-in? Let us know using the message boards or by tweeting @SkyFootball, and don't forget you'll see every match of the race on Sky Sports.
