Premier League 2016/17: Analysing the festive period fixtures for the top 6

Tottenham Hotspur (Currently 5^th – 33 points)

Spurs celebrate Danny Rose’s winner against Burnley on Sunday

Fixtures: Southampton(A), Watford(A), Chelsea(H)

Of the teams in the top six, Spurs probably have the most difficult set of festive fixtures. They travel to Southampton and Watford before a daunting home game against the leaders, Chelsea.

The Saints have been a tough nut to crack this season, especially at St. Mary’s. It will be no different for Spurs. Watford have taken some big scalps at Vicarage Road over the last two seasons, but they have had a severe dip in form.

The bigger concern for Spurs though is the spacing out of the fixtures. They play on Wednesday, Sunday and Wednesday. You’d argue that they should be used to it thanks to playing in Europe – either the Champions League or the Europa League – for a few seasons now. But often in the Europa League, Mauricio Pochettino has picked weakened sides and kept his stars fresh for the league games.

He cannot do so here, because if Spurs take it lightly against either Southampton or Watford, they will be punished.

Sportskeeda Prediction: A win, a draw and a loss for Spurs in these three games. They will beat Watford and draw against Southampton, but the test posed by Conte’s Chelsea will be a bridge too far. That will ensure they lose further ground on the top four.