Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League this season, as they have made an unbeaten start to the campaign and are currently second in the table, only behind Manchester City on goal difference. However, their title hopes could be in jeopardy if they lose any of their vital players to injury, according to former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
Spurs rely heavily on Maddison, Son and Romero
Tottenham have been boosted by the arrival of James Maddison from Leicester City in the summer, as the England international has formed a formidable partnership with Heung-min Son in the attacking midfield. Maddison has scored four goals and provided three assists in eight league games, while Son has netted six times and set up two more. The duo have been instrumental in Tottenham’s attacking play, as they have created 32 chances and completed 22 dribbles between them.
At the back, Tottenham have also been solid, thanks to the signing of Cristian Romero from Atalanta. The Argentine defender has been a rock at the centre of Spurs’ defence, as he has made 23 tackles, 16 interceptions and 36 clearances in seven league games. He has also scored one goal and helped Tottenham keep four clean sheets.
O’Hara, who played for Tottenham between 2005 and 2011, believes that these three players are crucial for Spurs’ title challenge, and losing any of them to injury would be a huge blow for the team.
“I think Tottenham’s situation as a squad has definitely got better this season and they have players that can come on and make a difference, but I still think they need to improve in January,” O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport. “If Spurs can stay in touch with Manchester City and Arsenal until January, Daniel Levy may look at the situation and realise that they actually have half a chance of challenging for the title. That could make him go out and spend some money on solid reinforcements. Then I think Spurs would have a chance of winning the league.”
“They have a similar situation to Arsenal last season in that if they lose a couple of key players to injury they’ll be in a lot of trouble. If they lose James Maddison to injury, they’re finished. Similarly, if they lose Heung-min Son or Cristian Romero, they’re finished. The good thing for Spurs is that they don’t have any European football so there is a good chance that everyone will stay fit.”
Spurs face tough fixtures ahead
Tottenham will face a stern test of their title credentials in the coming weeks, as they have some tough fixtures ahead. They will take on London rivals Fulham on Monday night, who are currently fourth in the table and have won four of their last five games. Fulham have also scored 16 goals in eight games, the third-highest tally in the league.
After that, Tottenham will face Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 28th, followed by a home game against Liverpool on November 4th. These two teams are among the favourites for the title, and Spurs will need to get positive results against them to prove their mettle.
O’Hara is confident that Tottenham can beat Fulham on Monday night, but he is not so sure about their chances against United and Liverpool.
“With the form Spurs are in, Monday night’s game against Fulham will be a walk in the park for them. I think they will breeze through the game,” O’Hara said. “Fulham are not the side that they were last season and I think Marco Silva will be regretting not taking a move to Saudi Arabia because they look so poor this season. They’ve got Tim Ream playing centre-back and he looks like he has a mistake in him every week.”
“I think Spurs will pounce on them and win the game comfortably.”
“However, I think it will be a different story against Manchester United and Liverpool. They are both very strong teams and they will pose a lot of problems for Spurs. I think Spurs will struggle to get anything from those games.”
Spurs need to avoid complacency and injuries
Tottenham have made a remarkable start to the season under new manager Ange Postecoglou, who has brought an exciting brand of football to the club. They have shown great resilience and character to win some tight games, such as the 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
However, they cannot afford to get complacent or overconfident, as the Premier League is a long and gruelling competition that requires consistency and depth. They also need to avoid injuries to their key players, especially Maddison, Son and Romero, who are irreplaceable in their positions.
If Tottenham can keep their momentum and their stars fit, they could have a realistic chance of challenging for the title this season. However, if they slip up or suffer any setbacks, they could quickly fall behind their rivals and miss out on a golden opportunity.
