Manchester United picked up a third straight Premier League victory by beating West Brom 2-0 at the Hawthorns last weekend.

A brace from in-form striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured three more points for Jose Mourinho’s men, who keep the pressure on the top four following their eighth win of the campaign.

The Red Devils are just three points adrift of fifth place Tottenham, who themselves are just a point behind Arsenal after they lost 2-1 at Manchester City on Sunday.

For United, there has been a clear improvement over the last few weeks, and they are now beginning to reap the rewards that their performances warrant.

Mourinho’s men host struggling Sunderland on Boxing Day before a home game against Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve, so United fans will be confident of extending their winning run over the Christmas period.

Nonetheless, it has been a largely frustrating year for United who, although they won the FA Cup, missed out on Champions League qualification last season.

But, with Christmas fast approaching, we thought we’d take a look back on the year, and select United’s best THREE goals of 2016…

Jesse Lingard vs Crystal Palace (May 21)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0vUoC_zM-I

In what turned out to be Louis van Gaal’s final game in charge of Manchester United, Jesse Lingard’s stunning strike meant that he went out on a high by winning the FA Cup.

The Red Devils fell behind to Jason Puncheon’s finish 12 minutes from time, but Juan Mata took the game to extra-time eight minutes later when he slotted home from Wayne Rooney’s good work.

United went down to ten men when Chris Smalling received a second yellow card, but five minutes later Lingard fired them into the lead with a stunning strike.

Antonio Valencia broke down the right and fired low into the box, which was half cleared by Damien Delaney, and in a split second Lingard had volleyed past Wayne Hennessey.

The England international reacted brilliantly and showed incredible technique to win the FA Cup for United.

Anthony Martial vs Stoke (February 2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArRZCoUKCXY

Anthony Martial finished off a fine team goal with a fine strike against Stoke in February.

Jesse Lingard gave van Gaal’s side the lead after just 14 minutes, and then French international Martial finished off an excellent move just nine minutes later to put United in complete control.

And it was a great goal from the Red Devils.

It all came about from a Stoke attack which was thwarted by Daley Blind, allowing Lingard and Michael Carrick to move the ball forward. Juan Mata picked it up down the right, brilliantly cut it back to Wayne Rooney, who fed Martial on the corner of the box.

The Frenchman then expertly half-volleyed it past Jack Butland to set United on their way to three points.

Jesse Lingard vs Chelsea (February 7)

Five days after the Stoke win, United travelled to Chelsea in a bid to keep the pressure on the top four.

And when Jesse Lingard netted on the hour it looked like they were going to do just that. And what a goal it was!

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson fizzed a low ball into the box which Wayne Rooney failed to control, but the ball bobbled loose to Lingard who, with his back to goal, took the ball down, and fired home the volley on the turn.

It wasn’t enough to secure the win for van Gaal’s side though, as Diego Costa equalised late on, but it was a special piece of skill from Lingard, and easily one of United’s best goals this year.