LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur can leapfrog Aston Villa into a Champions League spot if they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage in the English Premier League on March 16 while, at the other end of the table, Luton Town host Nottingham Forest in a relegation battle.

Spurs, who have lost just one of their last eight league games, are two points behind fourth-placed Villa in fifth on 53 points and have a game in hand over the Midlands side after thumping them 4-0 away last weekend.

Villa could have moved eight points clear, but instead Tottenham are breathing down their necks and can temporarily move into fourth spot after a rout that Villa manager Unai Emery called a “very bad day in the office”.

Villa play West Ham United away on March 17 in the last Premier League game before the international break.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou will be boosted by the return of forward Richarlison, who missed the last two league games due to a knee injury.

Before that, the Brazil international had scored nine goals in 10 Premier League games, so he is a vital player when fully fit.

“Richy trained today, we’ll see how he pulls up. If he’s fine, he’ll probably be available,” said Postecoglou on March 15.

Defender Micky van de Ven and winger Manor Solomon, however, are both out of the clash.

In the absence of van de Ven, Radu Dragusin will start his first Spurs match.

“I’ll take the suspense out of it. He’ll start tomorrow,” Postecoglou added.

“He’s had to be patient for his opportunity with Micky and Cristian (Romero) being outstanding. I think he can bring us something different.”

Mid-table Fulham, meanwhile, will look to bounce back after their 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers last week that ended a run of two straight league victories, but they have lost their last seven home league games against Spurs.

Emery’s Villa have had mixed results since mid-December, with six victories over bottom-half teams but four defeats against top-half sides by a combined score of 12-4.

They will take on David Moyes’ West Ham, who are seventh on 43 points, four behind sixth-placed Manchester United.

None of the league’s front runners – Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City – are in Premier League action this weekend – with the latter pair playing their FA Cup quarter-final ties.

There are only four league fixtures and Luton must pick themselves up ahead of their crunch game on March 16 at home to Forest, after giving up a three-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to Bournemouth at the Vitality on March 13.

Both teams are battling against relegation and desperately need a win this weekend, with Forest in 17th and three points above 18th-placed Luton, who are in the drop zone.

“Huge game on Saturday,” Luton manager Rob Edwards said.

“Losing is difficult anyway but in that manner (against Bournemouth) it does hurt, but if we can’t pick ourselves up for a huge Premier League game, then there’s something wrong.”

The relegation dogfight has heated up since Everton had their points deduction reduced from 10 to six, with five points separating 15th-placed Brentford from third-bottom Luton.

Also on March 16, Brentford travel to 19th-placed Burnley, who have 14 points after just three wins all season and are above bottom-side Sheffield United only on goal difference. REUTERS