Tottenham beat Burnley 2-1 last weekend to consolidate fifth place in the Premier League at Christmas.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side fell behind to Ashley Barnes’ strike, yet goals from the English duo of Dele Alli and Danny Rose secured an important three points for Spurs, who have Manchester United breathing down their neck in sixth.

Nonetheless, a third league win in four means that Spurs are now just a point behind North London rivals Arsenal, who have lost to both Everton and Manchester City in the last few weeks.

Consequently, Pochettino’s men will go into their clash at Southampton on December 28 and then their New Year’s Day encounter with Watford hoping to usurp the Gunners and get themselves back inside the top four.

Spurs have won nine of their 17 league games this season, and were unbeaten all the way up until November 26, although lost 2-1 at league leaders Chelsea in their 13th match of the campaign.

In what has been a solid first half of the season at White Hart Lane, we thought we’d take a look back at Tottenham’s season so far, and evaluate which players have performed for the team, and those that need to do better in 2017.

Thus, here are the Spurs players that make it onto the naughty or nice list this Christmas…

NICE – Victor Wanyama

One of Tottenham’s best players this season, Victor Wanyama has seamlessly slotted into the Spurs midfield following his move from Southampton in the summer.

The former Celtic man excelled for Ronald Koeman’s Saints last season, helping them to a sixth place finish in the Premier League, and he was unsurprisingly snapped up by Pochettino, with whom he worked at St Mary’s back in 2013.

The Kenyan captain has been an ever-present in the league this season for Spurs, and appears to complement the more agile and forward-thinking Mousa Dembele in the defensive midfield role.

Wanyama consistently keeps things ticking over in the middle, and provides the foundation for the forward players to do their bit – he’ll be integral to Spurs’ success this season.

NAUGHTY – Vincent Janssen

It hasn’t quite happened for Vincent Janssen at Tottenham so far this season.

The 22-year-old made a £17 million move to White Hart Lane from AZ in the summer having netted 31 times in 47 games for the club last season, but we are yet to see any of that at Spurs.

The Dutch international has yet to net from open play, and he didn’t do enough in Harry Kane’s absence earlier in the campaign to suggest that he is the answer to their striking concerns.

He may need just that one goal to get him going, but it doesn’t look like he is going to get it any time soon.

NICE – Danny Rose

Danny Rose has just got better and better in the last year or so.

The England defender began to nail down the left-back spot at White Hart Lane following a successful loan spell at Sunderland in 2013, and has since then been the go-to man in that area for Pochettino.

And no wonder, as the 26-year-old has improved his defensive game wholesome in recent times, yet that hasn’t impacted on his attacking threat, which is still as good as any full-back in the division.

Arguably the best left-back in the league this season, Rose continues to get up and down the left-hand-side in the same energetic manner we have seen all season for both club and country.

NAUGHTY – Moussa Sissoko

A decent substitute’s cameo against Manchester United aside, Moussa Sissoko hasn’t really offered a lot this season.

The French international earned himself a big money move to the Premier League after an impressive time with his country at the European Championships, but the Sissoko we’ve seen so far this season is the one that got relegated with Newcastle, not the one that got to the final with France.

Just two assists from the 27-year-old, albeit both in recent weeks, isn’t really worth the £30 million they paid for him, so he must improve in 2017 if he wants to remain in and around this Tottenham team.

NICE – Harry Kane

He may have missed a chunk of the season through injury, but Harry Kane is still Spurs’ top-scorer this season, and the man they rely on to get the goals.

The England forward suffered an ankle injury in their win over Sunderland back in September, and returned almost six weeks later in the North London derby against Arsenal, in which he netted the equaliser for Pochettino’s side.

Since his return, Kane has scored seven goals in nine games and, although he hasn’t netted in their last three, Spurs have still won twice, which perhaps indicates that they are beginning to share the responsibility around the forward players.

Nonetheless, if Spurs are to achieve a top four finish or win a trophy this season, they will need Kane in top form in 2017.