Tuesday 2 May 2017 12:20, UK
Jamie Carragher says Tottenham could be champions if Chelsea had been playing in Europe this season.
Spurs are four points behind the Premier League leaders with four games to play, but seem destined to fall short after being in a title race for the second season in a row.
They missed out in their fight with Leicester City last season and Carragher says things could easily have gone their way this season if Chelsea had not finished 10th last season.
He told Monday Night Football: "Where I think they've been really unlucky is that Leicester won the league. We all loved it, but it was a freak and a one-off. You don't see that happen - and it was a team not playing in Europe.
"They are now up against a Chelsea team who had no Europe. How often do Chelsea not play in Europe? It doesn't happen.
"They went 13 wins in a row and matched the Premier League record. How often does that happen? That's what they are up against.
"If Chelsea had been in Europe I think there's a great chance we could be saying with four games to go that this could be Tottenham's first title since 1961. That's how good they are.
"If Chelsea had played more games they probably would have had a few more injuries and couldn't maybe play the same team week in and week out.
"I just think they may have just done it."
In the 72 matches played since the start of last season, Spurs have picked up 15 more points than any other side, despite having a net transfer spend of just £7m in that period.
Yet they haven't won a trophy, having lost to Chelsea in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final and trailing Antonio Conte's side - who beat Everton 3-0 on Sunday - in the title race.
But Carragher says Spurs deserve immense credit for their performances over a two-year period.
"I think it was a big win for Chelsea and they've almost got one hand on the trophy," he added.
"I think they'll know it was a big chance for them to gain something on Chelsea. They lost last week in the semi-final so maybe it was two opportunities. There's still a few games to go, so who knows?
"But if you look at what they've done over the last two years… we always said Spurs were a bit of a soft touch over the years, but this is not a soft touch. This is a top team.
"They are ahead of everyone. More wins, more goals, the best defence, the best of everything."
