Tottenham are four points better off than they were this time last year but are a place lower in the Premier League this time around.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men beat Burnley 2-1 last weekend to sit fifth in the table, having accumulated 33 points from their opening 17 matches.

That was their fourth win in six league games, and it means that they are just a point behind North London rivals Arsenal at Christmas given that Arsene Wenger’s side have suffered defeats to Everton and Manchester City in recent weeks.

Spurs are starting to look like the side that went close in last year’s Premier League and, although they were unbeaten in their first 12 league games of the season, they drew too many, and lacked that killer instinct that served them well last season.

However, since losing to Chelsea on November 26, they have won three of their four games to keep the pressure on the top four in what looks set to be the tightest race for the Champions League spots in many a year.

In what has been a fine year for Tottenham, which saw them record their highest ever Premier League finish and return to the Champions League, we thought we’d take a look back at their year thus far, and identify their THREE best goals from 2016…

Son Heung-min vs Swansea (December 3)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvh2KL1nR-o

The technique Son Heung-min showed to double Tottenham’s lead against Swansea a few weeks ago was simply brilliant.

The South Korean international had gone ten games without scoring prior to the game, but he reacted quickest to Christian Eriksen’s blocked shot to acrobatically fire past Lukas Fabianski.

Son had little time to think where the goal was, but he spectacularly swivelled on the volley into the corner, leaving Fabianski with no chance.

Spurs went on to win 5-0 against Bob Bradley’s side, with Son’s goal the pick of the bunch.

Harry Kane vs Arsenal (March 5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gyfef0HYY4

Where better time and place to score a stunning goal than in a North London derby when your side are pushing for the Premier League title.

That was exactly the case back in March when Harry Kane superbly fired past Petr Cech to give Pochettino’s men a 2-1 lead over their rivals, although they ended up drawing 2-2 in the end.

Nonetheless, Kane’s strike was of the highest quality, and he has Dele Alli to thank for his tenacity in the corner and refusing to give up on a lost cause.

The English midfielder’s brilliant back heel gave Kane the chance to advance on goal, but the striker decided otherwise. He took just one touch inside before firing home from an acute angle, sending White Hart Lane into raptures.

Dele Alli vs Crystal Palace (January 23)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWjJCPnLp7w

The BBC’s Goal of the Season for the last campaign was Dele Alli’s stunner against Crystal Palace.

Spurs were six minutes away from dropping points at Selhurst Park, as they were level at 1-1, but England international Alli produced a moment of magic to set them on their way to the win.

It was patient build-up from Pochettino’s side before Harry Kane crossed deep towards Christian Eriksen, whose cushioned header found its way to Alli.

After that, it was simply brilliant, as the 20-year-old took a touch, flicked the ball over both his and Miles Jedinak’s head, and then volleyed home past Wayne Hennessey in the Palace goal.

It was a strike worthy of winning any football match.