The pretenders for fourth keep coming up short, leaving Liverpool laughing

With Liverpool's problems of the last three months you would expect that at least one of the three other teams that are in the scrap for fourth would have taken the chance to build up a gap ahead of a predictable improvement in form for Liverpool over the next couple of months. Without a cushion surely Aston Villa, Tottenham or Manchester City will struggle when the big pressure of the final ten games starts to take its toll in March and April?

But despite Liverpool winning just four of the last eleven league games - each of the pretenders have proved equally poor. Even Liverpool's draw at Stoke was enough to move them a point close to fourth place as none of the teams ahead of them could win games against teams in the lower half of the division this weekend. Rafa Benitez does not come across as having much to laugh about at the moment, but a glance at the table shows that Liverpool remain just four points shy of fourth place and the club usually picks up momentum in the second half of the season. Only a small improvement in form for Liverpool will leave Benitez laughing at his many critics.

Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham ended November battering nine past Wigan and looked likely to be the team that would then kick on, but they blow hot and cold - failing to score in three recent games but still averaging two goals a game. The game against Liverpool this week could now make or break the leage season.

Disappointing results in last 10 games:
Hull (h) 0-0 - home draws to Hull are a worry
Fulham (a) 0-0 - looked a decent point at the time, but Fulham have barely picked up a point since
Wolves (h) 0-1 - smash-and-grab home defeat against a team that scores the fewest goals in the division
Everton (a) 2-2 - disappointing point against a team hovering over the dropzone
Aston Villa (a) 1-1 - even the late equalizer failed to cover the lost opportunity

Total cost: 11 points

Manchester City
The succession of draws and suspect defensive work cost Mark Hughes his job and whilst Roberto Mancini has tightened things up, the defeat at Everton was worryingly passionless.

Disappointing results in last 10 games:
Liverpool (a) 2-2 - City lead twice
Hull (h) 1-1 - home draw to relegation candidate
Bolton (a) 3-3 - conceding freely to a relegation candidate
Tottenham (a) 0-3 - crushing defeat to a rival
Everton (a) 0-2 - outplayed by a team in lower mid-table

Total cost: 12 points

Aston Villa
Considering Villa's dreadful run-in record under Martin O'Neill, there is every reason to believe that they won't finish the season strongly. Villa have yet to win a March league game under Martin O'Neill so they more than any of the other contenders needed to build a cushion through the winter months.

Disappointing results in last 10 games:
West Ham (h) 0-0 - too few chances created at home again
Liverpool (h) 0-1 - last minute loss in a game that was there for the taking and could have really knocked Liverpool back
Arsenal (a) 0-3 - beaten comfortably by third placed Arsenal
Tottenham (h) 1-1 - late goal cost Villa the chance to punish rivals
Burnley (a) 1-1 - Burnley are without a win since October

Total cost: 12 points