“Fact Or Fiction” is a series that will be run every Friday. In this series, an assertion will be made regarding an impacting topic in the Premier League. EPL Talk writers Matt Hackenmiller and Earl Reed each offer their views on whether the statement is “Fact or Fiction.”

Fact or Fiction: At this point in the season, Tottenham is the second best team in the Premier League.

MH: Fact. After a slow start, Tottenham has been on a tear over the past two months. In fact, over their last ten matches Spurs have a record of 8-1-1. Along the way, Tottenham has solid victories over the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. This season the attack of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, and Rafael van der Vaart has been aided by the inclusion of striker Emmanuel Adebayor. The improvement has been on display at White Hart Lane where Spurs have been averaging 2.29 goals per match. While Tottenham has been ascending, the club directly ahead of them in the table, Manchester United, has been in a holding pattern. Although the Red Devils have been solid defensively, they have lacked a killer instinct since the devastating loss to Manchester City. Because of this, it’s quite possible that over the holiday fixture stretch, Tottenham could catch United and take over the second slot in the Premier League table.

ER: Both Fact and Fiction. At the moment Spurs are playing the 2nd best football in the Premier League, that’s the fact. The fiction points to the January transfer window, where I see Sir Alex Ferguson rejuvenating a broken-down squad that has been decimated by injuries early. Manchester United will also need to address the lack of creativity from midfield; whether they choose to do that in January or summer remains to be seen. In any regard, I think the Red Devils will regain their fitness, add a couple of pieces for depth in the open window, and focus intently on making the April 28, 2012 Manchester Derby a title deciding battle at the Etihad Stadium.

What do you think? Is it fact or fiction that at this point in the season, Tottenham is the second best team in the Premier League?