Tim Sherwood has told Tottenham’s players to ‘take a good look at themselves’, insisting they are to blame for Spurs’ slump and not the manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The north Londoners had been tipped to mount a closer challenge to Liverpool and Manchester City, but any hopes of a Premier League title bid have fallen by the wayside.

Getty Images - Getty 2 Things aren’t going to plan for Spurs right now

They are without a win in their past five games and currently sit 14th in the table – 11 points adrift of the top four and worryingly just six points above the bottom three.

Pochettino has come under pressure during his side’s rut, and there are reports that he could well be on the way out.

But former Spurs midfielder and manager Sherwood insists the team must take more responsibility for their recent performances, while also accusing a number of players of ‘hiding’ during their rough patch.

“I don’t blame the manager, I blame the players,” he said on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.

“They have to look at themselves and have that bravery when things are not going well to get on the ball in dangerous areas and really take the game to the opposition.

AFP 2 Tim Sherwood insists manager Mauricio Pochettino is not to blame for Spurs’ slump

“Because, at the moment, a few of them look like they’re hiding.

“When you have a bad run of form you always look for excuses why, and everyone is pointing to the obvious one, which is the uncertainly amongst the squad.

“Three or four players are out of contract and others are coming quite close to running their contracts down next year. That’s not what Pochettino wants, he wants players who are going to be there for the long-term.

“But, you still need to get the best out of what you’ve got.”

Ray Parlour backs Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham

London rivals West Ham are next up for Spurs, with both clubs in need of a result.

The Hammers sit two places below Tottenham in the table and Sherwood says it’s the perfect time for his former side to get a morale-boosting victory.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash – which will be LIVE on talkSPORT – Sherwood added: “Both teams are having a bad time of it.

“Not many are having a worse time than Tottenham, but fortunately enough West Ham are.

“Tottenham desperately need three points. They need to pick up some form, get their best players on the pitch and hopefully they can play with confidence.

Live on talkSPORT Check out all the live commentaries coming up across the talkSPORT network this week Germany vs Northern Ireland (Tuesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2

Fulham vs QPR (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2

West Ham vs Tottenham (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT

Charlton vs Cardiff (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT 2

Arsenal vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2

Man City vs Chelsea (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT

Middlesbrough vs Hull (Sunday, 12pm) – talkSPORT 2

“It’s so important to make sure you’re in the top four for the Champions League next season, and at the moment they’ve got a uphill task to try to achieve that.

“I still back them to put a run together, I think they’re capable of going ten game unbeaten.

“You wouldn’t suggest that on their current form, but Pochettino has built a good squad of players and they just need to perform.”

Saturday is GameDay on talkSPORT as we bring you THREE live Premier League commentaries across our network, including West Ham vs Tottenham at 12:30pm