#2 The Chelsea factor
In the last eight years, Tottenham has finished in the top four five times, on three of those occasions, Chelsea finished outside the top four as Tottenham capitalized on the underperformance of The Blues in 2012, 2016 and 2018.
Chelsea have infamously capitulated in the season after winning the league title on the last two occasions, first in 2016, when Mourinho's 'third season syndrome' crept in, and the London club found themselves in the relegation places when the Portuguese was sacked amidst rumors of clashes with the physios and players.
Last season, controversies over a text message, departure of the club's technical director, failed transfer pursuits and unsettlement of key players played a role in finishing a dismal fifth, having won the title in remarkable circumstances just a year earlier.
Chelsea have always followed up each of these disappointments with an improved performance in the league, and despite their setback in the Community Shield should continue that trend. Also, in Maurizio Sarri, they have a tactically astute coach who has the wherewithal to steady the ship.
With the clear superiority of the Manchester clubs and massive investment by Liverpool, Chelsea's likely revival could mean that Spurs would have to be the team to fall out of the EPL top four.