Henrikh Mkhitaryan's first Premier League goal earned Jose Mourinho's Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory over high-flying Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Armenian, who was carried off on a stretcher with 10 minutes remaining after a heavy tackle left him clutching his ankle, blasted home on 29 minutes after Ander Herrera intercepted a sloppy Harry Kane pass in midfield.
>Read: Mkhitaryan will be out until Boxing Day: Mourinho
Herrera fed the ball through and Mkhitaryan, a 25 million pounds ($31.43 million) close-season buy from Borussia Dortmund who was left out in the cold earlier in the campaign, did the rest with a rocket of a shot over keeper Hugo Lloris.
The unmarked Victor Wanyama missed a good chance to grab an equaliser for Spurs following a free kick in the 56th minute, his header going inexplicably wide, while Paul Pogba struck the woodwork for United in the 64th.
The host remained sixth with 24 points, three behind fifth-placed Tottenham who might otherwise have overtaken Manchester City — beaten 4-2 at champion Leicester City on Saturday — on goal difference.
United remains one of the two current Premier League teams that Kane, last season's top marksman, has yet to score against.
The victory was United's first at home in the league since September.
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