Spurs will have biggest-ever support against Forest tonight for all the wrong reasons

Life is sometimes strange - and witty. Just look at Tottenham Hotspur, for instance. Their current Premier League season has been so awful that they might have been battling for survival if it weren't for Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton, who have all been miserable since the opening matchday.

As a result, Spurs have almost certainly avoided any threat of relegation, and tonight's home fixture against Nottingham Forest doesn’t mean much to them.

On the other hand, an away win is practically a must for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side if they want to stay in the Champions League race. So, at the same time, this Premier League game is about as bizarre as it gets. Fans of Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Aston Villa will all be watching closely, rooting for Tottenham for their own reasons.

The Tricky Trees are level with Villa and Chelsea at 57 points ahead of tonight’s match, while the Cityzens and the Magpies sit one and two points ahead, respectively.

Unlike the title race, this fight for UCL qualification is pure drama - a real treat for neutrals. And the match between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest is one of the key battles along the way.

Postecoglou: "To your misfortune, you'll have to put up with me a little longer"

The visitors can’t afford any slip-ups - let alone a loss - which could send them tumbling toward the Conference League. That’s not something Espirito Santo and his crew are ready to accept after months of stunning football and consistently punching above their weight.

Ironically, the team that could ruin everything for them is none other than the dreadful Tottenham, having their worst EPL season in recent memory.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 33

Saturday

Brentford - Brighton 4-2 (1-1)

/Mbuemo 9, 48, Wissa 58, Norgaard 90+5 - Welbeck 45+3, Mitoma 81/

Crystal Palace - Bournemouth 0-0

Everton - Man.City 0-2 (0-0)

/O'Riley 85, Kovacic 90+3/

West Ham - Southampton 1-1 (1-0)

/Bowen 47 - Ugochukwu 90'+3/

Aston Villa - Newcastle 4-1 (1-1)

/Watkins 1, Maatsen 64, Burn (og) 73, Onana 75 - Schar 18/

Sunday

Fulham - Chelsea 1-2 (1-0)

/Iwobi 20 - George 83, Neto 90+3/

Ipswich - Arsenal 0-4 (0-2)

/Martinelli 28, Trossard 14, 69, Nwaneri 88/

Man.Utd. - Wolverhampton 0-1 (0-0)

/Sarabia 77/

Leicester - Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)

/Alexander-Arnold 76/

Monday

22:00: (2.55) Tottenham (3.50) Nott.Forest (2.85)

***odds are subject to change***