Liverpool hit six past Spurs to pull clear in Premier League title race – 5 talking points
Liverpool gave their manager Arne Slot an early Christmas present, beating Tottenham in style on Sunday.
In the first half, goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool full control. Mo Salah scored two more in the second half to seal a great night for the Reds.
This win means Liverpool will be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day, putting them in a strong position in the title race. James Maddison scored for Spurs in the first half, but the home team never looked like winning.
Spurs tried to fight back late in the game with goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke, but Diaz’s second goal six minutes from time ended their hopes. Let’s look at the key moments from this big Liverpool win:
Liverpool in Control
It’s now clear—this is Liverpool’s title to lose. Tottenham has been a tough place for Liverpool in the past, but Arne Slot’s team handled it with ease.
Liverpool’s pressing made it hard for Spurs to get out of their own half. Most of the first half was one-way traffic, with Liverpool attacking and Spurs defending.
Alisson had little to do in Liverpool’s goal, while Spurs’ defense was under pressure all game. The Reds are now four points ahead of Chelsea, six ahead of Arsenal, and 12 clear of Manchester City, with a game in hand.
Trent Stands Out
Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract ends next summer, showed why Liverpool should keep him.
He kept Son Heung-Min quiet defensively and was brilliant going forward. Trent’s perfect cross set up Diaz’s first goal and showed his world-class ability.
With Real Madrid reportedly interested, Liverpool need to act fast to secure their star right-back.
More Problems for Postecoglou
Tottenham had no answers to Liverpool’s strong performance. They had just two shots on target in the first half, one of which came from Mac Allister’s mistake.
Liverpool’s pressing kept Spurs pinned back, and they couldn’t get out of their own third. Ange Postecoglou’s style of play will face more criticism after this loss.
It’s also the first time Spurs have conceded five goals at home in 10 years. They are now in the bottom half of the table, nine points behind the top four, and Postecoglou is under pressure to turn things around.
Szoboszlai Shines
Dominik Szoboszlai was one of Liverpool’s best players. He was involved in most of their attacking moves and worked hard defensively too.
Szoboszlai helped Mac Allister score by beating two defenders and creating the chance. He also scored a great goal himself, winning an aerial duel and finishing calmly.
He added an assist for Salah’s second goal, capping off an excellent game.
Salah Breaks Records
Mohamed Salah just keeps breaking records. His assist for Szoboszlai’s goal made him the first Premier League player to get 10 goals and 10 assists before Christmas in a single season.
He then scored twice in the second half, moving up to fourth place on Liverpool’s all-time scorers list and leading the Golden Boot race this season.
Even though Djed Spence did well against him in some moments, Salah still found ways to make an impact. The Egyptian has shown once again why he deserves a new contract.
