Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday when they host Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho’s side conceded a late equaliser at Everton last weekend to draw for a third successive game, and indeed take their total number of draws to six – the joint-most in the league.

They are level on six with both Middlesbrough and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham, but they will be going to Old Trafford off the back of a 5-0 demolition of struggling Swansea last week, and a morale-boosting 3-1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen were in the goals as Spurs picked up their second win in three league games, and opened up a seven-point lead over United in the table.

They will go to Manchester hoping to be the fifth consecutive side to leave Old Trafford with at least a point, with the likes of Stoke, Burnley, Arsenal, and West Ham all going there in the last few months and getting positive results.

Nevertheless, United’s improved performances will give the home fans hope that they can get that first home win since September 24 on Sunday, and here are THREE reasons why they will beat Tottenham this weekend…

It’s a matter of time before they win again

There’s no doubt that United have improved in recent weeks, but they still aren’t getting the wins necessary to be in title contention.

The Red Devils have drawn six of their last eight Premier League games, and it’s arguable that they could and perhaps should have won at least five of those, with Liverpool the only one that’s less clearcut.

Nonetheless, they haven’t, and they go into this one playing well without getting the rewards, but you sense that it’s just a matter of time before they get that big result.

And, having won their last two games against Spurs at Old Trafford, that result could be on Sunday.

They need to win

Even at this reasonably early stage of the season, this is a must-win game for United.

Mourinho’s men are already seven points adrift of Spurs in fifth, who are a further three behind Manchester City in fourth – United cannot afford to drop more points and lose ground.

The title challenge is over, but now they must turn their attentions to making sure they are in the race for a top four finish come May.

A ten point gap to Spurs, and likely more to City and Liverpool, could be too much to make up even with 23 games to go after Sunday’s fixture.

Mata = big game player

Juan Mata’s influence in the big matches is quite extraordinary.

The 28-year-old has played 43 times against the top six teams in England, and has scored 13 goals and assisted ten times in those matches.

His average of a goal or an assist every 148 minutes is better than the best the other teams have to offer, with the likes of Philippe Coutinho (172 minutes), Mesut Ozil (179 minutes), and Eden Hazard (230 minutes) well behind the Spanish international.

Mata’s 13 goals are unrivalled – the next best are Hazard and Coutinho with 11 – and only City’s David Silva has more assists with 16.

And Mata has already proved his worth once again in the big games this season, netting the opener in United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal last month and, although the above stats are for Premier League only, he scored the winner in their 1-0 win over Man City in the League Cup back in October.

The 28-year-old clearly brings his best to the big games, and he could be the difference at Old Trafford on Sunday.