Late goals by Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood sealed Manchester United’s 3-1 comeback win against Tottenham Hotspur, cementing their place in the Premier League top-four while the London club’s hopes of joining them looked slim on Sunday.

Cavani had a goal controversially ruled out in an otherwise dull first half shortly before Son Heung-min gave Tottenham a 40th-minute lead with their first shot on target.

The second half was far more lively with United dominating. Fred equalised from close range just before the hour-mark and Cavani then made up for his first-half frustration by diving to head home in the 79th minute.

The closest Tottenham came to an equaliser was when Cavani headed an attempted clearance against his own crossbar.

But substitute Greenwood made sure of the win when he fired past Hugo Lloris with almost the final kick.

Second-placed United’s win allowed them to cut runaway leaders Manchester City’s lead to 11 points having played one game fewer, although perhaps more importantly they are nine points above fifth-placed Chelsea.

Tottenham stay in seventh spot.

Lingard scores

Earlier, Jesse Lingard scored twice as West Ham United climbed back into fourth spot with a vital 3-2 victory over third-placed Leicester City.

Lingard, who has been in scintillating form since arriving on loan from Manchester United in mid-season, took his tally for the Hammers to eight goals with two strikes before halftime.

Jarrod Bowen made it 3-0 shortly after the interval and West Ham were denied a fourth when Issa Diop’s effort was deemed offside.

Leicester finally came to life with Kelechi Iheanacho punishing a defensive mistake with 20 minutes remaining.

West Ham, who squandered a 3-0 lead to draw with Arsenal last month and almost did the same against Wolves, looked nervy at times after that and Iheanacho ramped up the tension with a second goal in stoppage time.

But West Ham survived some heart-in-the-mouth moments to secure a vital victory in their quest for an unlikely top-four finish.