Finally; Manchester United earned their first Premier League win at Old Trafford since September, having drawn their last four in a row at home, after defeating Tottenham 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils, who now occupy sixth spot in the English top-flight standings, are now just three points behind Spurs, as well as six points adrift of fierce rivals Manchester City – who lost 4-2 to defending league champions Leicester City at the weekend.

Summer signing, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, latched onto Ander Herrera’s lovely through ball to beat goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and net his first league goal for United to claim a narrow victory for the hosts at Old Trafford, despite the Armenian ace being forced off with an ankle injury in the dying embers of the game.

Despite Mkhitaryan’s injury woe and the fact Jose Mourinho’s side are still 13 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea after their opening 15 games, Shoot! looks at five reasons why Manchester United will turn their 2016/17 season around THIS WEEK…

Rejuvenated Jones

The England international, 24, has starred and featured in all 90 minutes of Manchester United’s last five Premier League outings, in which the Red Devils have remained undefeated – two wins and three wins.

Jones, whose 2016/17 campaign has been hampered by a knee injury, has slotted into manager Jose Mourinho’s unsettled back four with impressive ease and sublime form, conceding four goals in those five fixtures.

With fellow key centre-backs Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly sidelined through injury, Jones has really stepped up to the plate and delivered some inspiring performances, keeping in-form Premier League hitman Harry Kane thoroughly at bay at Old Trafford yesterday.

On this evidence; if the defender can continue his fine form, his important stature at club level will transfer onto the international stage with England next year.

Momentum is with Mourinho

Many fans, supporters, experts and pundits alike feared for Jose Mourinho’s side heading into their weekend clash against top four rivals and in-form Tottenham, but all three points against Mauricio Pochettino’s men is sure to give the Red Devils momentum ahead of this week’s Premier League fixtures.

Spurs, who thrashed Swansea City 5-0 prior to their trip to the Theatre of Dreams, looked to be recapturing their form that drew them close to catching eventual Premier League champions Leicester City last season, but United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan had other ideas.

The hosts’ first home league win at Old Trafford since September 24 is bound to bode well for Mourinho and Manchester United in the forthcoming days, as they look to reduce the gap between them and the top four before Christmas.

Festive fixtures

Up next for United, Crystal Palace.

Given United’s encouraging 1-0 win over fifth-placed Tottenham, the Red Devils’ upcoming league games this week look increasingly winnable.

First up on Wednesday night is a trip to Selhurst Park to take on Alan Pardew’s Palace, who hover three points above the relegation zone after drawing 3-3 with newly promoted Hull City at the weekend.

Then, on Saturday, United are on their travels once more, this time to The Hawthorns to face West Brom.

The Baggies were narrowly beaten by league leaders Chelsea at the weekend (1-0), but if United maintain defensively solid heading into the weekend, we fancy Mourinho’s men to snatch all three points in the Midlands.

Finding form

Having gone six games unbeaten in the Premier League, are Manchester United finally finding form under Jose Mourinho?

Admittedly, it has taken longer than expected for the ‘Special One’ to implement his winning ways at The Theatre of Dreams, but Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Spurs shows they can beat the best teams in the division on their day.

Undoubtedly, United have a vastly talented squad, possessing the likes of David De Gea, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but a stuttering start to their 2016/17 campaign saw numerous Red Devil supporters cast doubt over whether Mourinho could turn this side into potential league champions in his debut term.

Picking up 11 points from a possible 18 on offer is hardly title-winning form, but it is a significant improvement on their early season performances.

Back this unbeaten run up with victories over Crystal Palace and West Brom, and who knows what 2017 holds for Mourinho and Manchester United.

Herrera’s heroics

Beside Phil Jones’ solid displays at the back, midfielder Herrera has been another standout star for United in recent weeks, particularly in Sunday’s victory against Tottenham.

The 27-year-old has featured in 12 of United’s Premier League games this season and set up Mkhitaryan’s winner against Spurs on Sunday to seal the Red Devils’ first home league win since September.

Herrera, who arrived at Old Trafford from Athletic Bilbao back in June 2014, has scored one goal and provided five assists in 19 appearances in all competitions so far this season.

The Spain international was the key man that instigated Manchester United’s 1-0 win against Tottenham, providing five key passes and the eventual assist for the match winner.

With United finding form, being defensively sound and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic still netting at a decent goalscoring rate, we believe it will be pretty hard for Crystal Palace and West Brom to defeat Herrera & Co this week.