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Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri says Tottenham are title favourites

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Tottenham, Arsenal & Man City favourites for title - Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri

Tottenham are the Premier League title favourites, according to Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri.

Spurs, who are two points behind leaders Leicester with 11 games remaining, have not been top since the first week of the 2009-10 season.

But ex-Chelsea boss Ranieri, whose side host West Brom on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), believes the Londoners can end their 55-year wait for a top-flight title.

"Tottenham are strong in every situation," said the Italian.

Spurs could go top with a win at West Ham on Wednesday, should the Foxes slip up against West Brom.

Arsenal are three points adrift of their London rivals in third, with Manchester City another four points back in fourth, albeit with a game in hand.

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Ranieri believes his side's exploits this season have allowed Tottenham to avoid the usual attention generated by a title challenge.

"Everyone is speaking about Leicester but nobody about Tottenham," he said.

"Tottenham, in my opinion, are favourites. When they defend and when they attack, they know what they want.

"We are the surprise, that is fantastic, a good energy, but if we are realistic the real competitors are Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham."

Brian Clough and assistant manager Peter Taylor after Nottingham Forest won the First Division title in 1978
Would a Leicester title be bigger than Nottingham Forest's in 1978?

'You'd put this in front of Forest'

Ranieri may be reluctant to speak about his side's title hopes, but West Brom counterpart Tony Pulis is hoping the Foxes can hold off their rivals.

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "The divide between the big clubs and everyone else is enormous. It would give everyone hope. You want to see the underdog do well.

"It would be a wonderful, wonderful achievement. I hope they see it through."

Pulis believes a Leicester triumph, a year after fighting relegation, would eclipse the achievements of Brian Clough with Nottingham Forest in 1978.

Clough took Forest to their first - and only - domestic league title a year after winning promotion to the top flight, later winning two European Cups.

"It'd be that big," said Pulis. "But it was different then. The divide then wasn't as great as the divide is now between those who've got it and those who haven't got it.

"The Premier League wasn't in place, so you'd most probably put this in front of that."

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153 comments

  • Comment posted by Sir Pie of Pork, at 11:20 1 Mar 2016

    Leicester winning would be incredible, Spurs winning would be something special too... I just hope they finish first and second, however it pans out.

  • Comment posted by Your Call Is Important To Us, at 11:28 1 Mar 2016

    In terms of purely winning the league, I'd say Leicester winning would be at least on par with Forest. Remember, Forest got promoted with the 4th-lowest points total in history at that point and won it in their first season after going up.

    However, in terms of Forest then going on to win the European Cup in 79 and 80, Leicester have a long way to go before matching that!

  • Comment posted by charlessy, at 11:33 1 Mar 2016

    As an Arsenal fan, it annoys me to see us five points off the top. Tottenham and Leicester are where they are not just because of quality but because they have desire and spirit in abundance.

    If Arsenal had shown spirit and desire against Man Utd we could be 2 points off the top. The title race isn't over for all sides in the top four but Arsenal need to show hunger and desire like LCFC+Spurs

  • Comment posted by DanWoodley, at 11:57 1 Mar 2016

    He's talking rubbish obviously! Leicester are title favourites as much as anyone.

    Maybe the fact that Spurs have won their last 6 PL games without any attention is something that Ranieri wants to change...

  • Comment posted by Garibaldi, at 11:22 1 Mar 2016

    He's trying to defer the attention. Spurs have gone about winning the last 6 in a row and there's been very little heat on them. This week is going to be a real test, but any of the top four could take the title if they put a run together.

  • Comment posted by Sir Ad E Noid, at 11:25 1 Mar 2016

    I'd be happy to see either Spurs or Leicester win the title. It'll shake things up nicely and put the focus firmly on Wenger and the Arsenal board. £200m to spend and relying on Welbeck or Giroud as a main striker. Not good enough.

  • Comment posted by wolf359, at 12:10 1 Mar 2016

    Spurs for the Premiership?Leicester for the Premiership? Either could win it.At least it is NOT Man City or Liverpool who could win the title which is a good thing.

  • Comment posted by Lowey, at 11:15 1 Mar 2016

    Mind games have started! God ........there is still 10 games left yet!

  • Comment posted by User0328626706, at 14:14 1 Mar 2016

    Either Spurs or Leicester please.....far better than the plastic clubs usually fighting it out at this stage of the season

  • Comment posted by stanlington85, at 12:50 1 Mar 2016

    As a Utd fan, it would never be our year. I have friends/relatives who are Spurs and Leicester fans and both have been so excited by this year, so I'd be happy to see either win.

    I do hope Spurs finish above Arsenal so no one has to see a drunk Jack Wilshere singing "It's happened again" on top of a bus.

  • Comment posted by D1679482481440, at 13:50 1 Mar 2016

    The fact that Leicester are top show how good Leicester have been, not how bad everyone else has been. This season is much more entertaining that it has been for many years now.

  • Comment posted by J , at 12:51 1 Mar 2016

    Ranieri is right..push the pressure on to Spurs & away from LCFC. Tally-ho! The Foxes..2015/16 EPL Champions. Fingers crossed. (From a neutral)

  • Comment posted by User0138791583, at 13:44 1 Mar 2016

    As an Arsenal supporter, I'd obviously much rather Leicester win than Spurs, but Spurs winning would still at least shake things up. Arsenal have probably missed the boat now and will have to win another FA Cup to salvage the season. Having a three-horse race without the usual suspects of Chelsea and City at the fore though is good for football, whoever ends up taking the title.

  • Comment posted by User0461241803, at 12:37 1 Mar 2016

    For the Spuds, tomorrow's West Ham game is the critical one for me, hammers are in good form, Spuds are sharp if they beat the irons they win the title, I predict we will struggle with Swansea tomorrow, it's all over for Arsenal

  • Comment posted by D1679490228198, at 12:08 1 Mar 2016

    17: "Leicester will not win the league, which I predicted they will if you check comments I left at the end of 2015. ......."

    One of those comments from those that want to be proclaimed football Gods to the public , yet their hearts exactly want the opposite they say. They havent really run out of momentum...clubs have upped their tempoo against them .....

  • Comment posted by kenny_burns_kneecap, at 16:17 1 Mar 2016

    Ranieri, what a gent - as a neutral, would love to see him lift the prem trophy.The only thing I don't like about Leicester just now is the locally produced crisps, or bags of air, as I call them. Rip off - 55p for a standard bag of Worcester Sauce and guess what, only 8 (EIGHT!) full crisps in the bag plus a few crumbs. I'm sure you know the brand, I've swapped the 'l' in their name for a 'n'.

  • Comment posted by User0927375778, at 13:37 1 Mar 2016

    In over 40 years as a Spurs fan, the only time I've seen us come remotely close to winning the League was in 1985 when we ran neck-and-neck with Howard Kendall's great Everton team before blowing out in the last few weeks of the season. Two VERY tough games ahead this week. In any other season, I'd be wanting to Leicester to hold on, but cleary this is THFC's best chance in 30 years.

  • Comment posted by - - - And Out Come The Wolves, at 14:31 1 Mar 2016

    Aren't man utd favourites? There have been 22 articles a week and 9 HYS a week about them since august, and this is the first ever Leicester/Spurs article and HYS in the past century, I was certain utd were hot favs. I cannot understand why this isn't the usual LvG/utd story with constant comments on T-shirts, racism, etc from reddevil zark the explorer mountain water drinking guy.

  • Comment posted by User0794990729, at 12:08 1 Mar 2016

    Spurs involvement in the Europa League may have an impact. That said, they pulled just about the toughest draw so it may be two more games and then focus on the league.

    Liverpool showed the advantage of a clear schedule in 2013/14. The difference between them and Leicester though was that they were clawing back a deficit while Leicester are already sitting two points clear.

    Leicester faves

  • Comment posted by Gravy, at 15:35 1 Mar 2016

    Nice to see real clubs in contention rather than just the big plastic franchises for a change. I'd rather Leicester win it just for the fairytale but Spurs would be at least different too.

    As a WBA fan I hope Leicester lose tonight but win the rest of their games!

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