Chelsea breathe down necks of Tottenham, Liverpool for top-four Premier League finish
Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday to keep their top-four hopes alive.
They sit just two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with two games left.
They are three behind Liverpool with extra game but have worse goal difference.
It was only a month ago that Chelsea found themselves 10 points adrift of Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification.
Five games later and Antonio Conte suddenly has a very real chance of reaching the top four to salvage something from what has been a dismal title defence.
Spurs have won just one of their last four, against Watford, since losing against Manchester City. Throw in an FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United and these have been troubling weeks for Mauricio Pochettino.
Tottenham need four points to guarantee a top-four finish in their remaining two games, both at Wembley against Newcastle and Leicester City.
“It’s still in our hands so we need to work hard in the next two games but it’s our chance to be in the Champions League next season,” Pochettino said after the late defeat by West Brom.
If they don’t manage the points required then Chelsea could pounce after four consecutive victories – and Conte also has an eye on Liverpool, too.
Jurgen Klopp’s side sit on 72 points with just one match remaining, at home to Brighton next Sunday.
They require three points to be absolutely sure, which leaves the battle for third and fourth almost as fascinating as who is joining Stoke City in the Championship next season.
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