Capital rivals and United struggling to make impact in race for top four

AS Newcastle threaten to pull away from the foot of the table and Manchester City continue their seemingly relentless procession to another title, the race for Champions League football looks set to be the top flight's biggest issue this spring.

- Dan Kilpatrick

The question is which of the faltering contenders is the favourite to finish fourth after another weekend of dropped points and underwhelming performances.

Tottenham began the week in a position of strength, thanks largely to having one of the world's best coaches in Antonio Conte and games in hand on their rivals.

But Spurs' post-transfer window optimism, reinforced by a comfortable FA Cup win over Brighton, has totally evaporated with back-to-back home defeats to Southampton and Wolves in deeply concerning fashion.

Conte has warned it will be “impossible" to return to the Champions League on current form and only a handful of his players looks of the required standard anyway.

To be clear, the club's problems long pre-date Conte, but the head coach is not beyond scrutiny, and his persistence with a 3-4-3 system which does not suit his squad, and some recent selection decisions, have been questionable.

There is also the issue of Conte's messaging, with his harsh home truths beginning to feel like unhelpful self-fulfilling prophecies.