With a break in the Premier League it seems a decent enough time to reflect on Tottenham Hotspur's season so far.

There have been thrills and spills in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup for Mauricio Pochettino and his players.

Our Tottenham writer Alasdair Gold gives us his moments of the season - good and bad - and where he sees Spurs being on New Year's Day when 2018 comes around.

Best moment

There can only be one. That victory against Real Madrid at Wembley. The match in the Bernabeu shouldn't be overlooked because it set the tone, but the game in England was brilliant.

Dele Alli roared back to life and Christian Eriksen proved he could do it on the big stage once again after his off night in Madrid. The defenders were also brilliant and Harry Winks again proved age and inexperience mean nothing if you've got the talent. Pochettino also proved his own qualities at the top level and Ronaldo and co didn't know what had hit them.

Worst moment

The early defeat to Chelsea was unfortunate and the loss at Manchester United was a game of fine margins. However, the Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham was so disappointing.

To be 2-0 up at half-time and lose 3-2 smacked of arrogance and overconfidence, which should never be in the case in a London derby, or any match for that matter.

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The defeat also robbed Pochettino of the chance to give his fringe players more minutes to get them ready for the season ahead and most important it took away a chance of a trophy, however little the competition means to the Spurs boss.

Surprise package

It's got to be Moussa Sissoko hasn't it? Of course, he's no world beater but if you'd have said eight months ago that he'd be a constant fixture in Pochettino's side this season and would impress in the big matches especially, you'd have done so with a quickly accompanying guffaw.

But he's found a place in this Tottenham squad and he has made an impact. He helps keep the team's shape and is an important part of the team when play is turned over.

Even with his two goals in recent weeks he may just have a shooting ability that rivals Steffen Freund's, but he does make an impact in the middle third of the pitch.

Biggest disappointment

A controversial one perhaps but probably Mousa Dembele. He's just so good that to lose him for so much of the season with three different injuries has been a major disappointment.

Spurs have been fortunate that Harry Winks has stepped up to the plate in style and even now Dembele's back, he doesn't seem fit enough to start matches.

Pochettino has admitted he needs to be carefully managed, but Dembele will not want to become the new Ledley King and not in a good way.

Best Spurs player

There could be a few contenders for this - Ben Davies, Harry Kane, Davinson Sanchez, Winks and Eric Dier has come on strong in recent weeks. However, Jan Vertonghen has been the standout player so far.

The Belgian has often been trapped in his compatriot Toby Alderweireld's shadow despite some fantastic performances. This year though Vertonghen has been the best, consistent and pretty much faultless, which helping guide Sanchez through his Tottenham honeymoon.

Often underrated by those outside Spurs, this has been Vertonghen's season so far.

Best opponent

Tough one this. Nobody has been brilliant against Tottenham as of yet. Pochettino's men have played their own part in their few downfalls so far this season.

The award probably has to go to Burnley. They were an absolute pain in the backside at Wembley in August and arguably deserved to take a point from the game in the end. They stifled Spurs in front of goal on the whole and while Tottenham had chances, they were often denied by some great defending.

Burnley have been resolute this season, as their seventh-place position in the Premier League table suggests, and Sean Dyche is once again a wanted man.

(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Best opposition player

This was close between Tammy Abraham, who gave Spurs' defence plenty of problems, and Mohamed Salah, but the Egyptian gets the nod because he got on the scoresheet.

Salah was the one Liverpool player that day at Wembley didn't deserve to be on the end of a hammering. His goal was scuffed, but showed great pace and movement and he was a live wire throughout the encounter.

Where will Spurs be on New Year's Day?

In a similar position unless Manchester City slip up. Pochettino's men face a very winnable series of games, with the north London derby the toughest up next. Manchester United face Arsenal and City in the coming weeks.

If Spurs can keep up their recent momentum, then they could be sitting second on New Year's Day, keeping up the chase behind Pep Guardiola's side.