Birmingham: Tim Sherwood will attempt to press his claims to remain in charge at Tottenham by securing a victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday that would keep alive his side’s fading top four hopes.
Sherwood’s chances of retaining his job beyond the end of this season appear slim with reports of Spurs’ interest in Holland coach Louis van Gaal gathering strength.
But Sherwood, who was hired on an 18-month contract after succeeding Andre Villas-Boas earlier this season, will enhance his reputation if he can revive the club’s season in the final five games of the campaign.
Tottenham visit the Hawthorns in sixth place, five points behind Arsenal in fourth and four points behind Everton who have a game in hand.
Games are running out for the north London outfit, but their 5-1 victory over Sunderland on Monday provided a timely confidence boost.
And a repeat against another Premier League struggler will certainly increase the pressure on north London rivals Arsenal, who are on FA Cup semi-final duty this weekend.
The win against Sunderland brought two more goals for Emmanuel Adebayor, whose return to form has been one of the successes of Sherwood’s brief time in charge.
Christian Eriksen, the Denmark playmaker who arrived at the club from Ajax last year, contributed a goal and three assists to maintain his recent progress after an inconsistent first season in the Premier League.
The goal took Eriksen’s tally to nine in 31 appearances and the player insists he has been happy with his contribution at his new club.
“It’s been a pleasure playing here. I’m looking forward to the final games of the season,” Eriksen said.
“I knew it would be difficult from the beginning and it has been.
“Everything is new and I’ve had to adapt to a lot of new things, a lot of new people. It’s been a fun time.
“I’m just doing my thing. I’m just lucky to be able to deliver something for the team.
“Against Sunderland we knew we had to bounce back from last week at Liverpool, we did that and hopefully we’ll continue at West Brom.”
Meanwhile, West Brom head coach Pepe Mel claims the traumas which have engulfed the club have “united” them.
The Baggies are five points clear of the relegation zone following last weekend’s win at Norwich — only Mel’s second victory since taking charge.
The Spaniard has had to contend with a series of off-field issues since his arrival in January — including the fall-out from Nicolas Anelka’s controversial ‘quenelle’ goal celebration, which eventually led to the Frenchman’s exit, and a recent dressing room flare-up involving Saido Berahino and James Morrison following a draw with Cardiff.
But Mel, who hopes to name an unchanged team if Morrison shakes off a knock, said: “The players know now that the only route is to be united.
“The problems made us more united. All of the players have really helped and gone in the same direction. The dressing room has shown itself to be very professional.
“I don’t mind if there are fights if in the following match we win.
“Is it healthy? No, but it’s something that’s normal among players and young players who are ambitious.
“The most important thing is what happens on May 12. I’m certain West Brom will still be in the Premier League.
“Each week we’ve had a different problem but these problems have been resolved. We will have a successful end.”
Next Tuesday marks 25 years since a fatal crush that would claim the lives of 96 Liverpool fans occurred during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough stadium in the northern city of Sheffield.
As a mark of respect, all professional matches in England this weekend will kick off at seven minutes past the hour, to mark the sixth-minute abandonment of the fateful game at Hillsborough.
Liverpool’s game against City on Sunday will also be preceded by tributes, with legendary figures from the two clubs exchanging wreaths on the pitch at Anfield before those inside the ground observe a minute’s silence.
Fresh inquests into the deaths opened recently after the original coroner’s verdicts of accidental death were quashed following a campaign by the victims’ families that led to the publication of a new independent report.
Two investigations are also under way into the police’s handling of the disaster, amid mounting evidence of a cover-up that prompted British Prime Minister David Cameron to issue an official apology.
The sense of occasion on Sunday will be heightened by the knowledge that victory over title rivals City will take Liverpool closer to a first league crown since 1990.
Brendan Rodgers’s side go into the game four points clear of City at the top of the table and although the visitors have two games in hand, their destiny will no longer be in their own hands if they lose.
However, Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson believes that it is still too soon to view Sunday’s encounter as a title decider.
“We’ve got five games left. It’s not one, it’s five,” said the England international, whose side are on a run of nine consecutive wins.
“We’ve got to take each one as it comes and it is City - it is a big game, but so are the other four.”
