On Tottenham Hotspur: The keys to their Champions League season.

Last season, Tottenham Hotspur broke into the top four in the Premier League and have earned a Champions League berth as a result. This is a big moment for Tottenham, because the last team that unexpectantly finished fourth in the League was Everton, and they finished the next season in ninth. It's important that Tottenham make a claim for themselves as one of the contenders in the Champions League.

But it is not going to be easy. In fact, if these key things don't happen, it's going to be damn near impossible:

1. Tom Huddlestone (pictured above). Huddlestone is the most important player on the entire Tottenham side. This guy could play linebacker for the Chicago Bears that's how big he is. But he's got a great touch on the ball, terrific field vision, and really understands the game. He's also in the best form of his life.

When this team goes into big games like Liverpool or Manchester City, they're going to need to look at this man for inspiration. Tom's the one who's really wary about the upcoming season, and for now that perspective is good. But you can bet your life that when he laces up, he's going to go into every game with all the confidence in the world. And that's exactly what this team needs, especially a team that's got blossoming young upstarts like Gareth Bale.

He's an absolute rock in defense, and they need him, as in my view the Spurs have a relatively weak back line other than the highly underrated Michael Dawson.

All in all, you will be able to trace this team's success or failure by watching how the rest of the players react and work with Huddlestone. His presence is absolutely vital to this team, and is perhaps the biggest key to them finishing in the top four again.

2. Stay ahead of Liverpool and City.

It's really no secret that Liverpool's season this year was flukey as hell. It really did come down to the coaching aspect as well as the injury aspect. I'm sorry, but Benitez just couldn't motivate Steven Gerrard enough. You know things are bad when Reds stalwart Lucas has to come out literally every week and make a statement about how the team is still holding together, that Gerrard is still vital to the team, and that they will be fine without Torres.

It really puts in perspective how bad Benitez was when it was revealed today that Torres would only want to leave because of a beef that Benitez started with him. Benitez was literally such a dick to the best player on the entire squad, quite possibly the best player in the world, that he doesn't even want to be a part of the squad even after he's gone.

But, with all of that said, Liverpool does have a new manager in Roy Hodgson. And Roy knows how to win. He made Europa finalists out of Fulham for God's sake. I think Roy's made some gutsy decisions that are either going to work or flop this season, and I'm mainly mentioning Joe Cole here. I read where Robben said that Cole is as good on the ball as Messi is. If that's even half true, Liverpool are going to be the team to beat in the Premier League. However, early on in the season Tottenham are going to have to put the screws to them and keep them down.

As for Manchester City, they could be making a move to win the Premier League for the first time. That's their goal for this season, it's a very immediate goal. And with that in mind they've started writing checks for anyone they can get their hands on. Including David Silva, Yaya Toure, and Aleksander Kolarov. Before it's all said and done they'll probably have Milner, too. They even made an offer to Drogba, rumor has it.

They also play City in the first game of the season in August, and I'll tell you right now, they need to win that game. It was their win in the first game of the season against Liverpool last season that got them going, and they need those good vibes to happen again.

In any case, Tottenham needs to keep these two extremely talented and extremely capable teams below them on the table, and that won't be easy. But they've shown they can do it with that win over Chelsea last season.

3. Strikers strikers strikers. Last season Jermain Defoe couldn't hit the broad side of a barn for Tottenham toward the end of the season. Peter Crouch only showed up to play every once in a while, and Robbie Keane was out most of the season on loan to Celtic. SO, with that in mind, a striker needs to come to the forefront for Spurs.

Maybe Roman Pavlyuchenko comes out of nowhere. Maybe Keane will catch on fire, maybe Defoe will remember how to shoot. Whatever it takes, Tottenham desperately need a goal scorer. They will most likely not be able to rely on their defense any longer, particularly with Liverpool and Manchester City out for blood.

Spurs need two guys with 15 or more, or one with at least more than 22 if they are going to have a shot.

These are my keys for Tottenham this season. Think these are dumb/have some of your own? Let's discuss.