Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino has warned Leicester his players are as fresh as they were at the start of the season and ready for a sprint finish to win the title.

Spurs are now eight points behind Leicester after the Foxes hammered Swansea 4-0 on Sunday, but can close the gap back to five with a win at home to West Brom on Monday night.

Concerns that Pochettino's pressing style of play and intense training methods might lead to fatigue have been allayed, with his side losing only once in the league since January and taking 14 points from the last 18 available.

Tottenham have four games left to catch Leicester and Pochettino believes his players are now running further and fighting harder with the finishing line in sight.

"I think we are as strong as at the start of the season, we are at the same level, maybe the difference is our opponents," Pochettino said.

"The data is similar at the beginning to now because now we can see the finish line.

"We don't arrive yet, this is important, but our motivation is good and then you can run more. It is always in our mind and we are in a very good moment.

"We need to fight to achieve big things like winning the title."

Tottenham may also have been spurred on by the suspension to Jamie Vardy, who missed Leicester's game against Swansea and could also have to sit out next week's match at Manchester United.

Tim Sherwood assesses Tottenham's future 5 show all Tim Sherwood assesses Tottenham's future 1/5 Knocking on the door "Part of the pressure on the teams at the top is that Chelsea are out of touch and Manchester United are not looking like the side they used to be. Everyone expects them both to improve next year, so this season was seen as a great opportunity for any of the top three - Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal - to win the title, and one that might not happen again soon. I disagree as far as Tottenham are concerned. Next year it is going to get harder, that is for sure, but I don't think this season is Spurs' only chance. If they don't win it this year, then I think a lot of people would say they will be among the favourites to win it in the future. I would agree with them," Sherwood told the BBC. 2/5 Contenders "The United game showed again why Tottenham are contenders - when things don't click for them up front, they have got a solid defence to fall back on. It meant United only managed one shot on target in the entire game. Tottenham suddenly turned it on with three goals in quick succession. They can do that because they have got match-winners, players who can turn games. I don't think Dele Alli had his best game against United, or Harry Kane, but you still knew they were on the pitch. They do not go missing even if they are not playing well and they still affect the game," Sherwood told the BBC. 3/5 Going nowhere "The thing with Tottenham, which makes them different to Leicester, is that they will be able to attract the best players in the world this summer. On top of the pull of London, and the fact Tottenham are a big club anyway, there could be Champions League football, as well as the prospect of a new ground and fantastic training facilities. They also have a young team with an exciting young manager. Everything is in place, on and off the pitch. Harry Kane has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United but why would anyone want to leave?" Sherwood told the BBC. 4/5 The right man in charge "In Mauricio Pochettino, they have got a manager who has a lot of faith in young players and a good young squad. What I like about Pochettino is how he has brought them along. I gave a lot of those players their debuts so he has been able to see them first hand in the Premier League, and see that they can do the job. He has stuck with them too. He has not worried about reputations or price tags - he picks his team based on what they do on the training ground. Clearly they are hungry enough to prove they should be in the side, but credit to Pochettino for giving them a chance. Is there more to come from them? Absolutely," Sherwood told the BBC. 5/5 Strength in depth "[Against United] we saw Tottenham's strongest team - if there was a cup final tomorrow, then this would be the team playing in it. Mauricio Pochettino has rotated a lot and has taken a while to decide on his best side, but I think he has found it now, with Jan Vertonghen fit and back in the side. Injuries and suspensions aside, I would be surprised if he makes any changes between now and the end of the season, and this will be the basis of his team going forward too. The youth he has in his squad means they have the energy that is such a big part of the way they play," Sherwood told the BBC. 1/5 Knocking on the door "Part of the pressure on the teams at the top is that Chelsea are out of touch and Manchester United are not looking like the side they used to be. Everyone expects them both to improve next year, so this season was seen as a great opportunity for any of the top three - Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal - to win the title, and one that might not happen again soon. I disagree as far as Tottenham are concerned. Next year it is going to get harder, that is for sure, but I don't think this season is Spurs' only chance. If they don't win it this year, then I think a lot of people would say they will be among the favourites to win it in the future. I would agree with them," Sherwood told the BBC. 2/5 Contenders "The United game showed again why Tottenham are contenders - when things don't click for them up front, they have got a solid defence to fall back on. It meant United only managed one shot on target in the entire game. Tottenham suddenly turned it on with three goals in quick succession. They can do that because they have got match-winners, players who can turn games. I don't think Dele Alli had his best game against United, or Harry Kane, but you still knew they were on the pitch. They do not go missing even if they are not playing well and they still affect the game," Sherwood told the BBC. 3/5 Going nowhere "The thing with Tottenham, which makes them different to Leicester, is that they will be able to attract the best players in the world this summer. On top of the pull of London, and the fact Tottenham are a big club anyway, there could be Champions League football, as well as the prospect of a new ground and fantastic training facilities. They also have a young team with an exciting young manager. Everything is in place, on and off the pitch. Harry Kane has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United but why would anyone want to leave?" Sherwood told the BBC. 4/5 The right man in charge "In Mauricio Pochettino, they have got a manager who has a lot of faith in young players and a good young squad. What I like about Pochettino is how he has brought them along. I gave a lot of those players their debuts so he has been able to see them first hand in the Premier League, and see that they can do the job. He has stuck with them too. He has not worried about reputations or price tags - he picks his team based on what they do on the training ground. Clearly they are hungry enough to prove they should be in the side, but credit to Pochettino for giving them a chance. Is there more to come from them? Absolutely," Sherwood told the BBC. 5/5 Strength in depth "[Against United] we saw Tottenham's strongest team - if there was a cup final tomorrow, then this would be the team playing in it. Mauricio Pochettino has rotated a lot and has taken a while to decide on his best side, but I think he has found it now, with Jan Vertonghen fit and back in the side. Injuries and suspensions aside, I would be surprised if he makes any changes between now and the end of the season, and this will be the basis of his team going forward too. The youth he has in his squad means they have the energy that is such a big part of the way they play," Sherwood told the BBC.

Vardy was clearly not missed against the Swans, but his ban could yet prove a tipping point in the title race, although Pochettino insists he will not be urging caution upon his own youthful squad.

"In football you can never send the message be careful to the players. They need to feel free to play," Pochettino said.

"If you translate this message you put this idea in their heads and you a put a limit on them. I think we feel free, without pressure.

"We showed it on Monday, we played very well and the way we took the game was fantastic."

Tottenham's emphatic victory over Stoke last week proved they are ready to push Leicester all the way, but they still have a mountain to climb, with games against Chelsea, Southampton and Newcastle to come after facing the Baggies. Leicester play Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea.

Pochettino says he knew Spurs would win at the Britannia Stadium, just from his players' mood before the game, and the Argentinian wants to maintain that drive during the final four games of the season.

"It was fantastic before the Stoke game, in the warm-up and when they arrived on the pitch," Pochettino said.

"You could feel we were ready to compete and the trust between each other was fantastic. It felt impossible we wouldn't get the three points.

"You can feel that from them. When you achieve that, it is fantastic and we need to fight now not to lose this feeling."