Boot Room: Season will be won or lost in next five games

Dubai: If Tottenham Hotspur are to catch Chelsea for the Premier League title, Antonio Conte’s side would have to suffer a collapse now, otherwise it’s never going to happen.

Spurs are just seven points behind with nine games remaining after Chelsea’s shock 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Blues would need to follow that up with immediate defeat at home to Manchester City on Wednesday and away to Manchester United on April 16 with perhaps a draw away to Everton on April 30 — that’s discounting safe-bet wins away to Bournemouth and at home to Southampton in between.

On top of that Spurs would need to win all their games within the same timeframe — away to Swansea, home to both Watford and Bournemouth and away to Leicester and Palace — to draw level.

Both variables are more than doable.

However, if it doesn’t happen within the next five games it probably never will, because after that Chelsea’s run-in eases with games at home to Watford and Middlesbrough, away to West Bromwich Albion and at home to Sunderland. Whereas Spurs have Arsenal at home, West Ham away, Man United at home and Hull City away.

Chelsea should easily walk their last four games, but the same can’t be said for Spurs, with the exception of the Hull game.

Third-placed Liverpool and fourth-placed Manchester City also can’t be forgotten.

Liverpool have a more than manageable run-in, at home to Bournemouth, away to Stoke and West Brom, home to Palace, away to Watford, home to Southampton, away to West Ham and at home to Middlesbrough.

All are winnable, but Liverpool are 10 points behind Chelsea, meaning Chelsea would have to suffer an even bigger collapse, and on top of that the Reds are already a game ahead of the other top four teams, with just eight games remaining as opposed to nine.

With the exception of Chelsea away on Wednesday and Manchester United at home on April 27, City also have an comparatively easy run in, at home to Hull, away to Southampton, home to West Brom, away to Middlesbrough, home to both Palace and Leicester and then away to Watford.

However, City are 11 points behind, which would again require Chelsea to suffer a monumental slip.

Spurs are therefore the only realistic challengers, and after the disappointment of finishing second last season, they will now be charged for the run-in, however neither club nor manager Mauricio Pochettino are renowned for ending seasons well.

Losing to Palace now could also be the reawakening Chelsea need to reassert themselves for the run-in. Yes, they’ve dominated the season and deserve their lead but they are far from invincible, especially defensively, and will need to stay alert until the very end. The season is far from over and countless teams have come back from bigger points differences with lesser games to go.