Pochettino: Tottenham ‘fighting for bigger things’ than finishing above Arsenal

“I think that the formation and the system and the philosophy helps Christian and Dele”.

But on April 22, the teams of these two foreign-born managers and former players will resume their turf war at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup semifinal.

Danny Rose (knee), Erik Lamela (hip) and Harry Winks (ankle) are all out. “We [Bournemouth] were Championship at the time, and we talked about him when we were at Burnley [Howe managed the Clarets from January 2011 to October 2012] as well, but he had gone beyond us quite quickly”.

Pochettino said: “It’s important for us to get the three points more than to put pressure on Chelsea – to keep our level, to win games for ourselves, and try to, as a effect, put pressure on them”.

Howe will be able to call upon Tyrone Mings after the defender completed a five-match suspension for stamping on Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Alli, who turned 21 on Tuesday, won the young player award last season and Pochettino said: “He’s improved a lot from last season”.

A Daily Mirror poll suggests that the teams’ rival fans “hate” each other: Chelsea are mostly hated by Spurs fans (91%), and Spurs are mostly hated by Arsenal (86%) and Chelsea fans (85%).

Midfielder Victor Wanyama is also available after a back injury, but second-choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm will continue to be assessed. “He needs only to feel the love from us inside the club”.

Eriksen scored a cracker from outside the box in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in November – and did pretty much the same against Southampton last month.

Back then, the thought of ever facing Tottenham in the Premier League seemed a distant dream.

Unlike a few years ago, the statistics now suggest that it is now easier to leave Old Trafford and Anfield with a positive result than at White Hart Lane, but they will only take confidence from draws at both of the North-West giants. “That is a good example for me”.

United are still chasing a coveted top four spot and the Champions League qualification it brings.

Dele Alli has, much like compatriot Harry Kane, proved why the hype surrounding him is to some extent, absolutely justified.

They could register 12 successive top-flight home wins within a single season for the first time.

Eriksen has 11 league assists – no-one has more – and he has created 88 chances in the Premier League this season, more than anyone else.

Middlesbrough, six points from safety and without a win in 14 league matches, have no margin for error either as they try to avoid relegation.

Both clubs have won the most penalties in the Premier League this season – Bournemouth have won 10 and Spurs have won eight.

“The most important thing is to do our jobs, try to win games and try to reduce the gap with Chelsea“. “If they do not feel like an important part of the project, it’s hard to win titles”.