Tottenham vs Liverpool LIVE: Result and reaction as teams play out nine-goal thriller in London
Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool: Arne Slot’s men extend lead over Chelsea and top the table at Christmas
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool earned a thrilling 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to ensure they head into Christmas top of the Premier League table.
Arne Slot’s side dominated from the start of a frantic encounter in the capital, with Luis Diaz opening the scoring from a brilliant Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, and they doubled the lead before long as Alexis Mac Allister headed home.
James Maddison grabbed one back to give Spurs brief hope, but Dominik Szoboszlai quickly poked home to put the visitors 3-1 up at the break.
And the second half started in much the same way, with Mo Salah netting twice in quick succession to put the game out of reach of the hosts. Despite late goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke, it was the Reds who had the last laugh too, with Diaz getting his second late on to put the gloss on a fantastic performance for the league leaders.
Follow all the action from the Premier League with our live blog below:
Ruthless Liverpool exploit everlasting flaws in Ange Postecoglou’s chaotic Tottenham
Are you not entertained? After the seven-goal thriller came the excitement of nine goals. Tottenham found a way to go two better, but also significantly worse. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has witnessed 16 goals in four days, Spurs have veered from winning 4-3 to losing 6-3. Angeball can veer from the brilliant to the ridiculous, but rarely quite to this extent. And in reply to Ange Postecoglou’s question on Thursday: it was hugely entertaining, but this time too much of the entertainment came at Tottenham’s expense.
Even as Liverpool’s previously impressive defensive record took another dent – it is now eight goals conceded in three league games – they suggested they had a better balance. They have excelled at winning under Arne Slot but have rarely run riot. This time they did both, scoring six in a game for the first time under the Dutchman. It was their most explosive attacking performance, spearheaded – with a certain inevitability – by Mohamed Salah. He ended his afternoon with two goals, two assists and a sense he was too good for Djed Spence, the makeshift left-back who was his immediate opponent.
Liverpool had the irresistible combination of individuals playing wonderfully and a team implementing a strategy. Trent Alexander-Arnoldwas outstanding, his magnificent cross for the opener underlining that few can strike a ball with such an intoxicating blend of whip and precision. Dominik Szoboszlai was terrific: if there are questions if he is productive enough, the Hungary captain ended with a goal and two assists to reward his relentless running. Salah has long excelled at the numbers game and has now been directly involved in 26 Premier Leaguegoals this season.
Ruthless Liverpool exploit everlasting flaws in Ange Postecoglou’s chaotic Tottenham
Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool: Arne Slot’s men extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with ruthless display
Alexis Mac Allister spoke to BBC, and says that Liverpool “are not happy with the fact we conceded three goals, that’s very cear, but we score six, that’s not very easy”.
“Tottenham are a good team, they press really high, they are aggressive, we knew we had to put the ball in behind and score the opportunities we had. We are happy with the result, there are many things to improve but we’re happy to get the three points.”
On the performance of team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai: “Dom is amazing, he can do everything, on and off the ball he is really good. He played a really good game, same with the attackers. We’re in a really good moment.”
On conceding more goals recently: “At the back we have to play simple and get the ball to them [attackers]. We worked on this the whole week and we try to improve every single day.
“We know we have to concede less, we are not happy with conceding three today, but it is what it is, we play against really good teams. Maybe we have to defend better but also we know we are dangerous when we attack.”
More from Postecoglou
“I’m not sure what you mean by pressure. I’m not happy with where we are. I think people are judging me, they’re not throwing platitudes at me. That’s fair enough.
“I can only navigate us through a difficult period and get to a position where hopefully we have a healthier squad and improve our position on the table.
“If you’re saying 10th is not a good position and I should maybe be uncomfortable, that is for others to judge.”
More from Slot
“It was very good, maybe it was our best performance away from home although I loved what I saw at Man Utd. Total dominance. That was a very good away game as well.
“I think we could have scored more goals today. You can’t score every chance, although I think Tottenham did!
“Mo and Lucho both had two goals, so stood out, but we wouldn’t do justice to Dom’s performance without mentioning him.
“He was an important part of our game plan and executed really well.”
Postecoglou: “It’s obviously a painful one"
Ange Postecoglou says that the result is “obviously a painful one for us”.
“Credit to Liverpool, they were too good for us. They’re in a great moment, great form, feeling confident. It was a bridge too far for us, We looked like we lacked energy which is understandable.”
On whether there are additional factors influencing performances: “I’m just going to stop answering these questions. If people can’t see the obvious I‘m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we’re conceding goals.
“If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and left-back and that hasn’t coincided with what we’re doing… I don’t know what to say anymore. I think people make up their mind in their own way. They either think what I’m doing is good or bad, and that’s fine.
“It’s fairly significant, if you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back - or any team other than Liverpool, they’d find it tough going as well.”
FULL-TIME! Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool
Tottenham have conceded 31 goals in Premier League home games in 2024; their most in a single calendar year since 2007 (34).
FULL-TIME! Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool
A stat for fans:
In the last seven seasons when Liverpool have been top of the table at Christmas, they have only won the league once.
It’s difficult to see them not winning this one though.
Salah says there is no contract update
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Mo Salah says that Liverpool “were quite good up front but defensively we need to improve as a team.
“Conceding three goals is quite hard. It’s a good result, hopefully we just keep going.
“We expected that [a chaotic match], the way they play, they open the game, they enjoy their football, they’re physically tough and mentally we always have to be in the game.
“They don’t change much the way they play, it’s intense. City came here and struggled, other teams too. I’m happy we won because they play an intense game.
He added that becoming the first player ever to score 10 goals and provide 10 assists in the Premier League before Christmas is “something that makes me proud, I’ll keep working hard.”
On becoming Liverpool’s fourth all-time leading goalscorer: “It’s great to achieve that at such a big club, but the most important thing is that we won the game. Wherever I am going to end my career I am happy about it.”
He finishes by saying that there is no update on his contract situation.
FULL-TIME! Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool
That result means Liverpool head into Christmas with a four-point lead at the top of the table, and with a game in hand. The Reds have 39 points from 16 games, while Chelsea have 35 from 17.
Spurs head into the festive period in 11th, with 23 points. They are now eight points off top four.
‘Remarkable, ridiculous entertainment'
“Remarkable, ridiculous entertainment.
“Angeball in its flawed glory. And three points for Liverpool.
“Their best attacking display under Slot, though perhaps not their best defensive one. But Diaz, Salah, Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold were all very good.”
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