Eric Dier admits Tottenham face crunch period as they seek first ever Premier League title
Spurs face 10 Premier League games between Saturday and New Year’s Day after playing nine in the first two-and-a-half months of the campaign.
And Dier says this period could have a huge bearing on the title race with just one point separating them in fifth place from leaders Manchester City.
“I think you’ll be able to tell after we go into this very busy period now,” said the England midfielder.
“From our experience last season, once you come out of the busy Christmas period, that’s where you can gauge better where everyone is.
“There are so many games now and once you come out of that, that’s when you can see who’s better prepared.”
As many as six teams could be involved in the title race and Dier says it could be the most keenly contested Premier League battle yet.
“There are a lot of teams up and around challenging, like ourselves.
“There are 29 games to go, there’s a long way. I’m sure it will be very tight sometimes and I’m sure there will be gaps at other times.
“A couple of weeks ago, Man City, they were five or six points ahead and everyone was saying they were going to run away with it.
“The Premier League chops and changes and I’m sure it will come down to the wire.”
Tottenham suffered their first domestic defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Tuesday and Dier is confident they will bounce back against champions Leicester on Saturday.
Dier, who captained Spurs for the first time at Anfield, claims they must show they have character by responding correctly.
“That’s the attitude we have to have,” he said. “If you want to be a big club and you want to be challenging, then when you have a defeat, you have to bounce back strongly. That will be our aim.”
(Daily Mirror)