It 's the run of games which will go a long way to deciding whether Manchester United are playing Champions League or Europa League football next season . Four of the Premier League 's top six - Tottenham , Liverpool , Manchester City and Chelsea - in their next fives games . Make-or-break for Louis van Gaal and his players . Other than the home clash with relegation-threatened Aston Villa on April 4 , Sunday 's visit of Spurs would appear to be United 's best hope of three points over the next month and a half . But recent results tell a different story . Marouane Fellaini , Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney ( L-R ) look dejected during defeat by Arsenal . Christian Eriksen scores Tottenham 's winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford last season . Eriksen is mobbed by his team-mates after helping Tottenham to their second consecutive win at Old Trafford . 29.09.2012 - Manchester United 2-3 Tottenham . 20.01.2013 - Tottenham 1-1 Manchester United . 01.12.2013 - Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United . 01.01.2014 - Manchester United 1-2 Tottenham . 28.12.2014 - Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United . Having won 17 and drawn five of their previous 22 games against Tottenham , United now find themselves without a win in their last five matches with the north London outfit . Mauricio Pochettino 's men battled to a 0-0 at White Hart Lane in December but Spurs have won their previous two visits to Old Trafford , ending a 23-year wait for victory with a 3-2 triumph in September 2012 . United had gone 26 games without defeat at home to Spurs in all competitions - winning their previous nine - before a Jonny Evans own goal and strikes from Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey gave Andre Villas-Boas ' men a memorable win in Manchester . And Tottenham proved that result was no fluke last season when goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen sealed a 2-1 victory for Tim Sherwood 's side . Gareth Bale scores during Tottenham 's 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in September 2012 - their first in 23 years . Clint Dempsey celebrates after netting Spurs ' winner against Sir Alex Ferguson 's side . Then Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas shows his delight after the final whistle . Two draws at White Hart Lane - 1-1 in January 2013 and 2-2 in December 2013 - were sandwiched between those victories , taking Spurs ' unbeaten run to an impressive five games . So impressive , in fact , that they are only the third team to manage such a run against United . Liverpool did the same between 2000 and 2002 , winning four consecutive games against their great rivals - including two at Old Trafford - and drawing once . Blackburn Rovers also went five games unbeaten against the Red Devils between 2004 and 2006 , winning at Old Trafford in September 2005 and coming out on top in two fixtures at Ewood Park . Just three points behind United going into Sunday 's game , Tottenham have a major incentive to pull off their third successive win at Old Trafford and become the first team to go six games unbeaten against United in the Premier League era . Hugo Lloris keeps out a shot from Robin van Persie during a 0-0 draw between the sides in December 2014 . Spurs striker Harry Kane ( left ) battles for the ball with Jonny Evans in this season 's clash at White Hart Lane . Football data analysts BSports believe a Manchester United home win is easily the most likely outcome . Victory would mean Pochettino 's side would be out of the Champions League places by goal difference only , something they will be confident of improving upon in upcoming games against Leicester , Burnley , Aston Villa and Newcastle . And in Harry Kane , the Premier League 's hottest striker and Premier League Player of the Month for February , Spurs have a man capable of causing United 's frail defence all sorts of problems . Their games against in-form Liverpool , local rivals City and league leaders Chelsea will be extremely tough but Van Gaal should be just as wary of Tottenham . After decades of domination , Spurs have quickly become United 's bogey team .
Manchester United host Champions League rivals Tottenham on Sunday . Spurs have won their previous six visits to Old Trafford . The north London outfit are unbeaten in their last fives games with United . Red Devils enjoyed a fine record against Tottenham until September 2012 . United face four of the Premier League 's top two in their next five games .