Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics, and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 28.
Team analysis: Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs may have had an off night in midweek, losing 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League, but domestically they are one of the form sides, having won three of their last four Premier League matches.
Sitting in 13th place they are still nine points adrift of the top half, but there are signs that Ange Postecoglou’s side are capable of finishing the campaign strongly.
Clean-sheet victories over Brentford and Manchester United have lifted morale, as did a handsome 4-1 success at Ipswich Town.
The return of several regular first-team players from injury has also provided a timely boost, with centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both in contention to start against AFC Bournemouth this weekend.
Shutout against Brentford set the tone
On the back of four consecutive Premier League defeats, the pressure was on for Postecoglou and his players at the start of February, but they discovered newfound defensive resolve in a 2-0 win at Brentford.
Spurs were often pushed back that day, and they rode their luck, but their collective resilience was exceptional.
Making 49 clearances, including 34 with their heads, their unified spirit played a big part in that victory, especially with three full-backs and a central midfielder making up the back four.
Those 49 clearances were the most by Spurs since May 2022 against Liverpool (51), while their 34 headed clearances was their highest tally in a league match since December 2016 against Burnley (43).
Spurs' clearances v Brentford
That hard-fought victory against Brentford set them up well for back-to-back successes against Man Utd and Ipswich.
Spurs made an impressive 26 clearances at home to Man Utd - their third-most of the season.
Postecoglou’s men have also made more blocks in their last four matches than their average of 3.65 across their first 23 matches.
While the stats below reflect a side that have had to absorb pressure, the numbers also signify an upturn in desire to protect their own goal.
Spurs' blocks last four matches
Opponent Blocks Brentford (A) 7 Man Utd (H) 4 Ipswich (A) 6 Man City (H) 5
Returning goalkeeper has made a difference
First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been outstanding across the last three matches.
The Italian missed 12 Premier League fixtures with an ankle injury, and Spurs had to use three different goalkeepers during his absence.
That uncertainty affected the team, who have been given a lift by Vicario’s comeback.
Vicario produced a sensational double save early on against Ipswich and caught the eye making a series of spectacular stops against both Man Utd and Manchester City.
In a sign that Spurs have not been exactly watertight in recent matches, Vicario has been forced into making 14 saves, the second-most in the division during the last three Matchweeks.
But his success rate when dealing with those efforts has been superb, helping to prevent an additional 1.4 goals according to Opta.
Spurs now face a Bournemouth team who rank third in the league for Expected Goals (xG) this season, so they may well be reliant on their fit-again 'keeper making more telling contributions.
PL goalkeepers' stats since 14 Feb
Saves Save success % Goals prevented Ramsdale 19 Flekken 90.0% Flekken 2.0 Vicario 14 Areola 88.9% Ederson 1.5 Onana 13 Vicario 87.5% Vicario 1.4
A super spell for Spence
One of the biggest positives for Spurs has been the resurgence of full-back Djed Spence.
He has filled in at left-back with great distinction, showing excellent defensive attributes in 1v1s.
The 24-year-old has been out of favour for most of his two-and-a-half-year spell with the club, but he is now offering plenty to the side defensively and with his progressive ball carrying too.
Spence tops the rankings for duels won, tackles won and completed dribbles compared with all Premier League defenders who have also made at least nine starts (his total).
Best PL defenders' averages per 90 24/25
Duels won Tackles won Dribbles completed Spence 7.85 Spence 2.45 Spence 2.45 Mazraoui 6.91 Munoz 2.43 Ait-Nouri 1.74 Munoz 6.70 Udogie 2.12 Wan-Bissaka 1.72 Williams 6.58 Romero 2.12 Semedo 1.14 Udogie 6.54 Senesi 2.05 Aina 1.07
He faces stiff competition now that Destiny Udogie is fit, but this weekend it would be no surprise if Spence starts ahead of him or Pedro Porro on the other flank.
Spence has become the type of dogged full-back that opponents do not want to face.
And as he showed against Ipswich, he is also capable of bursting into the final third to score goals.
Competition fuelling better performances
Postecoglou is no longer down to the bare bones in terms of attacking options and that should drive up standards between now and the end of the campaign.
We saw evidence of this at Portman Road when Spurs’ finishing was top-class.
Son Heung-min produced a mesmeric individual display, while Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski both scored, and James Maddison and Dane Scarlett also provided assists from the bench.
Kulusevski is now injured and Dominic Solanke limped off in midweek, but Spurs can still call on Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore and Timo Werner this Sunday in addition to the names mentioned.
In midfield you can see something similar happening too.
Fit-again Rodrigo Bentancur has made a difference in recent weeks.
Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall are vying for a spot alongside him, and both men have been getting forward to make things happen inside the final third.
Sarr burst into space to score a terrific goal at Brentford, as shown below, while it was Bergvall’s shot on target that was spilled out to Maddison for the winner at home to Man Utd.
Spurs remain a work in progress, as shown in Europe on Thursday, but they are in better shape than they were at the turn of the year.
For this reason, they can give a Bournemouth team who are chasing the top four a tough examination this weekend.
Also in this series