Chelsea's visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night has major implications at the top of the English Premier League that have not escaped the notice of Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho's Manchester United pulled level on points with Tottenham after victory against West Ham United on Monday at London Stadium, the team's sixth in a row in the league. Unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, United now lies just a point behind Arsenal in the race for UEFA Champions League football.
The Premier League's top six have been picking up points at an unprecedented rate, meaning United's run of form has not been reflected in the league table. Following a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea on October 23, United was seventh. Since then it has gone 11 games unbeaten yet is just a place higher, in sixth. Wednesday's meeting between league leader Chelsea and fifth-place Spurs, however, presents the opportunity for United to gain ground while idle.
"After tomorrow, Chelsea tomorrow, somebody loses or both lose two points," Mourinho said following his side's West Ham win. "So we go step by step, we try to win our matches. But in relation to Tottenham [against] Chelsea, I hope that is an amazing football match, because they are two amazing football teams with a privilege that nobody else had [avoiding playing two games in three days]. They are fresh. Let's go for a big match."
United's next engagement is the FA Cup third round fixture against Reading on January 7 at Old Trafford.
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