Nothing to play for?

CONTRARY to certain opinions, there's still an awful lot to play for in what remains of the European football season.
The title races may be over in England, France and Germany and "all bar the shouting" in Spain, but who will be top dog in the whole of Europe?
Can rave reviewed Manchester City win the Champions League or will Liverpool prove too tough a hurdle? Can the Reds evoke the spirit of Istanbul and win it themselves?
Can Arsenal sneak through the tradesman's entrance and qualify for next season's tournament?
Can Jose Mourinho put a bit of false gloss on a non-season by winning the FA Cup? Will West Ham's bubble truly burst?
Among the little guys, can all three promoted sides stay up? Long shot, but can Burnley finish above the Gunners in the table – on one tenth of the wage bill? Can Arsene Wenger survive?
There are more than enough issues among Premier League clubs to keep us waking before dawn until the tainted snooze-fest of the World Cup begins.
Indeed, with racism, violence and VAR sure to rear their ugly heads in Russia, it's quite possible the transfer window and managerial carousel that follow will be more entertaining.
What happens this weekend could have a major bearing on all that. The big game at the Bridge is surely Chelsea's "Last Chance Saloon" for a top four place and Antonio Conte's of remaining in charge.
Both look unlikely anyway but a fifth place finish would surely send him into the arms of PSG or a top Italian job should Juve's Max Allegri come to Arsenal or Napoli's Maurizio Sarri be headhunted as his successor.
That said, he's appeared a dead man walking since August yet not lost the dressing room. The Blues are still a good side, could win the FA Cup and are a cussed lot when under the cosh.
Unlucky against Barcelona and Man United, they have had the hex over Spurs in recent memory and not lost at home to them since 1990.
The trouble is that Willian is their only attacking player in form but Spurs also find themselves relying on one striker and his name is not Harry Kane.
Son Heung-min is their man of the moment but he plays better with Kane as the focal point.
Spurs have also been "missing" Dele Alli who is nowhere near the dynamic presence he was in previous seasons.
The trouble with calling a player "the best 21-year-old in the world", as Mauricio Pochettino did of him, is that he might believe it.
That attempt to boost his confidence has backfired and the kind view is that it could be what keeps tripping him up. The harsh view is that he's a serial diver – and not the only one in this Spurs team.
As he's also known for being "streetwise", it means he's a yellow card waiting to happen in the World Cup and may not even be on the plane.
When you're overtaken in the popularity stakes by Raheem Sterling, you have problems and Alli's are not just about holding on to the England No. 10 shirt.
This season he has simply not done enough, disappearing from games and being totally overshadowed by Christian Eriksen.
Against Italy, Sterling showed a determination to stay on his feet and get up even when tripped in a terrific display of how Pep Guardiola's coaching can turn players around.
All credit to Sterling for knuckling down – which is what Alli should do. Missing out on the World Cup might be the lesson he needs. Just as how Pochettino handles him could be the making of this aspiring manager. The Argentine badly needs a trophy to back up his reputation.
Alli will face Chelsea and the home side and crowd are sure to target him. With no love lost between these London rivals, it could be a feisty affair on Sunday night.
A Spurs win would just about seal their top four place as well as Liverpool's, but for Chelsea it would mean yet another summer of discontent.
The Reds kick off a tough week at Crystal Palace in tomorrow's early game. With City coming to Anfield in midweek, Jurgen Klopp would like to rest a few players but Palace can't be taken too lightly. Next up is the Merseyside derby and then they go to City for the second leg.
But for City it's even tougher. They also have an awkward away tie when they go to Everton whom they must beat to fulfil their dream of being crowned champions at the Etihad the following Sunday. Then it's Anfield in midweek and after Old Trafford, Liverpool again!
By the end of all this Pep and Klopp could be treated like gods, Mourinho and Wenger as men who salvaged a sliver of their reputations – or showed they've completely lost the plot. And people say there's nothing to play for!
Bob Holmes's latest book, Living the Dream, is available at all major bookstores and Bob will be signing copies at the "Be Bodog's Best Football Pundit" contest at Movida PJ Centrestage, Jalan 13/1 on Sunday night during the Arsenal vs Stoke game and before Chelsea vs Spurs.