Paul Merson urges Tottenham Hotspur to sack Antonio Conte and secure qualification for the Champions League. He feels Spurs have to ‘take advantage’ of Liverpool’s poor season.
Jurgen Klopp has seen his Anfield side fall away from their position as title contenders this term. Chelsea have also endured a dire campaign by the Blues’ usual standards. But Spurs now risk wasting their golden chance to finish in the top four of the Premier League table.
Merson made his claim as Tottenham entered the weekend sitting in fourth place with 45 points from 26 games. But Liverpool only trailed Spurs by three points and with a game in hand. Newcastle United in sixth also had two in hand to try to overturn a four-point deficit.
Results before this weekend had Merson calling for Tottenham to sack Conte
Brighton & Hove Albion also entered the weekend with three games in hand over Spurs in eighth. The Seagulls remained a threat for Tottenham’s position having secured 38 points through their 23 games. While Chelsea only sat in 10th with just 34 points from 25 games.
Liverpool, though, were emerging as Tottenham’s biggest rival for the top four before the weekend’s games commenced. The Reds were riding a wave of confidence after thrashing Manchester United 7-0. Spurs, on the other hand, had lost two of their prior four games.
Leicester City beat Tottenham 4-1 and Wolves had won 1-0 on either side of Conte’s squad beating West Ham United and Chelsea. Yet Liverpool wasted their chance to apply further pressure on Spurs after losing 1-0 at relegation-threatened AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
Champions League qualification is all Tottenham have to play for now
Tottenham have also crashed out of the FA Cup to Sheffield United and Champions League to AC Milan in recent weeks. They lost 1-0 at the Championship club and 1-0 on aggregate to the Serie A side. Spurs offered little threat in either leg of their last 16 tie with AC Milan.
So, Merson is increasingly of the belief that Tottenham must sack Conte now if they are to qualify for the Champions League. The Sun reports the Italian is set to leave Spurs with his contract up in June. Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino are the favourites to come in.
“I like Conte, you know, he won the league at Chelsea,” Merson said on Sky Sports News (11/03, 12:34). “I think they’ve got to make the change now. They’re going to have a new manager next season. Do it now.
“They’re not going to be in a better position to finish in the top four than they are now. You’ve got Liverpool, Chelsea – they’re not going to have seasons like that again, surely. You’ve got to take advantage. For me, I would get a manager in, whoever it may be.”
The post ‘Got to take advantage’: Paul Merson urges Tottenham decision to exploit Liverpool appeared first on HITC.
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