Forget the title; Spurs are now among the teams fighting to finish in the top four. Just a few weeks ago they were being lauded after a 3-1 win over European champions Real Madrid.

So what has gone wrong? ESPN FC assesses their slump:

No Toby, no party

The news that Toby Alderweireld would be sidelined until the New Year with the hamstring problem he suffered against Madrid went relatively under the radar, but Spurs have sorely missed the Belgian defender. Admittedly, they lost to West Ham and Man United with the 29-year-old, but the defensive organisation has been a shambles without him.

Both Leicester's goals were avoidable -- no one tracked Jamie Vardy and no one closed down Riyad Mahrez -- and Spurs again struggled to play out from the back. Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier are promising, but neither is as good on the ball as Alderweireld.

Being solid defensively and building from the back are key principles of Mauricio Pochettino's philosophy and the last few weeks have highlighted Alderweireld's importance to both.

Wanyama absence also felt

Alderweireld's absence has also exacerbated that of Victor Wanyama, who has not played since August because of a knee injury. With Dier now needed in the back three, Spurs are without a true holding midfielder and they have missed the Kenyan's physicality and quality on the ball, particularly at Man United and Arsenal.

On top of that, Harry Winks was ill this week and missed the defeat at Leicester, leaving the woeful Moussa Sissoko in the centre of midfield alongside Mousa Dembele, who has not looked his old self since a succession of injuries. Arguably, Pochettino has not helped matters, frequently shuffling his pack to leave the defence and midfield looking unsettled.

Others lack form and fitness

Christian Eriksen has been ineffective since a stunning hat trick in Denmark's World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland earlier this month and Danny Rose is still working his way back to fitness after 10 months on the sidelines.

Dele Alli is going through the worst dip since he joined Spurs and even Harry Kane, while still scoring, has not looked himself since ankle and knee problems. Hugo Lloris suffered a groin injury against Real and he struggled to get down to shots against Borussia Dortmund and West Brom, suggesting that he is not 100 percent.

Pochettino demands fit players and but too many are struggling to get ahead of the curve, something the manager has acknowledged.

The Wembley factor

Playing at a temporary home was always going to have a negative effect on Spurs and Pochettino has already given up trying to be positive about Wembley, admitting on Monday that playing there feels more like an away day.

Worryingly for Spurs, there is already a blueprint for how for how to stop them after Burnley, Swansea, Bournemouth, Barnsley, Crystal Palace and West Brom found success by dropping deep and flooding the centre of the Wembley pitch.

Spurs have faced this approach before but with their attack disjointed and few options from the bench -- except Fernando Llorente, who only invites hopeful crosses into the box -- they have not had an answer to unadventurous, defensive opponents.

Spurs are a target

Gary Megson, West Brom's interim manager against Spurs on Saturday, was delighted to earn a point at Wembley and even Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho seemed relieved to beat them with a late goal last month.

Spurs' improvement under Pochettino has made them a target for their opponents and Pochettino acknowledged on Tuesday that Leicester had simply been more aggressive at the King Power Stadium.

Coupled with the added motivation of playing at the 90,000-seat Wembley, opponents have looked hungrier and more purposeful in recent weeks and results have reflected that disparity.