Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points with a stunning 6-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, as Mohamed Salah delivered a masterclass to inspire his team to a memorable rout in north London.
Salah was at the heart of Liverpool’s dazzling performance, contributing two goals and two assists as Arne Slot’s side ran riot. His brilliance capped a dominant display of intelligent pressing and fluid passing that left Tottenham struggling to cope.
The result came after second-placed Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at Everton earlier in the day, allowing Liverpool to consolidate their position as title favourites heading into the Christmas period.
Tottenham had no answer to Liverpool’s relentless attacking play, with Salah the central figure in a front line that shredded Spurs’ defence. The Egyptian star, who has been in sensational form this season, now leads the Premier League with 15 goals and 11 assists—making him the only player to hit double figures in both categories so far.
The 32-year-old’s brace also saw him surpass Billy Liddell to become Liverpool’s fourth all-time top scorer with 229 goals, with only Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285), and Gordon Hodgson (241) ahead of him.
Salah’s remarkable performance only highlighted the urgency for Liverpool to secure his future, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season. He is free to sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs in January, and has repeatedly hinted that this could be his final season at Anfield.
As Salah netted his 18th goal of the season in all competitions, it was clear that Liverpool are firing on all cylinders under Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp in the summer. Since the Dutchman’s arrival, Liverpool have won 21 of their 25 matches in all competitions, and Slot looks increasingly likely to guide them to their first Premier League title since 2020.
The Reds were in imperious form against Tottenham, with Luis Díaz and Alexis Mac Allister also getting on the scoresheet. Dominik Szoboszlai made it 3-1 just before the break, and Salah took over after halftime, scoring twice more, while Díaz added a sixth.
Tottenham’s defensive frailties were laid bare, particularly in the face of Liverpool’s high-intensity pressing and quick, incisive passing. It was the first time in 10 years that Spurs had conceded five or more goals at home in a Premier League match. The result leaves them in 11th place, with mounting pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou to turn things around.
The match
The game started with a flourish from Liverpool, and Salah almost put them ahead early on, slaloming past three Tottenham defenders before crashing a shot off the crossbar.
Liverpool’s pressure finally paid off in the 23rd minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a pinpoint cross to Díaz, who headed past Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster from close range. The mood in the Tottenham crowd soured further when, midway through the first half, Spurs fans released black balloons in protest at chairman Daniel Levy’s reign.
Their frustration grew in the 36th minute as Liverpool doubled their lead. Andrew Robertson’s delivery was met by Szoboszlai, and a deflection fell kindly for Mac Allister, who nodded in from close range. Tottenham briefly rallied when Mac Allister was dispossessed by Dejan Kulusevski, allowing James Maddison to rifle home from 18 yards and make it 2-1.
But Liverpool responded in style, with Szoboszlai restoring the two-goal advantage in the final moments of the first half. Salah’s quick thinking created the chance, as he laid off a clever reverse pass to Szoboszlai, who slotted the ball past Forster.
After the break, Liverpool’s dominance continued. In the 54th minute, Salah pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box, tapping in a pass from Cody Gakpo. Seven minutes later, he netted again, finishing from close range after Szoboszlai’s pinpoint assist.
Tottenham did manage to grab two late goals—Dejan Kulusevski’s volley in the 72nd minute and Dominic Solanke’s effort in the 83rd—but Liverpool were never in danger of losing their grip on the game. Salah capped his performance with a perfectly timed pass to Díaz, who sealed the win in the 85th minute, ensuring a scoreline that reflected Liverpool’s complete dominance.
With the Reds sitting four points clear at the top and Salah in scintillating form, the stage is set for an exciting title race as we head into the festive period.
AFP
