Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that his Tottenham Hotspur players 'are willing to die' in their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League.

A shaky run of form has left the door open for Chelsea to usurp Spurs for a Champions League spot heading into the final four days of the season.

Spurs, with just one win in their last four top-flight outings, are two points better off than their London rivals in fourth place.

Ahead of Wednesday night's meeting with Newcastle United, which is followed up by another home match against Leicester City at the weekend, Pochettino has told his players to give all they have.

"It's in our hands. We need to die to try to achieve that," he told reporters at his pre-match press conference. "It's not, 'we need to play like this, with two centre-backs or two strikers or two keepers'. It's about the players dying trying to achieve it.

"It's massive because the Champions League is the best competition, with the Premier League, in the world. For me, it's impossible to think and not give your best when it depends on you to win.

"It's about being second, third, to fight for the top four - and if you keep going, keep going, taking the right decisions, you'll be close to winning."

Chelsea face Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United in their last two matches, while Liverpool - also within touching distance - host Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day.