Liverpool’s excellent start to the season showed no signs of slowing down on Sunday, emerging victorious in a chaotic 6-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur to ensure they would have a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League heading into Christmas.
The Reds were on the attack from start to finish and needed their forwards to stay in shape to survive a chaotic game. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scored a goal each as both sides scored, especially needed in a dramatic second half that saw five goals scored. Liverpool boasted a 5-1 lead with half an hour to play, providing an unexpected occasion for a wild finish with a total of nine goals at the final whistle, just two goals short of the Premier League record.
The opening 60 minutes were emblematic of the ease with which Arne Slot’s team have played since he joined the club this summer. They barely missed a beat, despite a notable change in playing style from Jurgen Klopp’s preferences. Although Slot’s version of Liverpool have been known for their restraint, Sunday’s match against Tottenham allowed them to display a more dynamic form, which has already emerged a handful of times this season. The Reds were as sharp as ever, passing the Spurs press with ease and finding their way in front of goal quickly and easily. In that case it would have been difficult for any backline to remain solid, but even more so for a depleted Spurs team missing their starting goalkeeper and centre-backs. By the time Salah completed his brace to give Liverpool a 5–1 lead in the 61st minute, the Reds had 17 shots to Spurs’ five, eight shots on target to the opponent’s two and an impressive 5, 1 expected goals, while Spurs had just 0.18 shots. .
After that goal, however, things started to unravel, perhaps a warning that taking their foot off the gas against a depleted but capable team could cause some unexpected drama. Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke’s goals created a smaller margin of victory than initially expected, even if Diaz’s second goal of the match ensured Liverpool would have a three-goal margin of victory. Sunday’s match marked the third time in four matches that Slot’s side have conceded at least two goals, a departure from the defensive solidity that has characterized them so far this season. However, unlike their recent draws against Newcastle United and Fulham, the win over Spurs shows that they can survive defensive mistakes thanks to their in-form attack. That includes Salah, who has now provided 16 goals and 13 assists this season, even though his time at Liverpool may be coming to an end.
Even with an imperfect victory, there is no indication that Liverpool’s grip on the title will diminish any time soon. Their four-point lead over second-place Chelsea does not take into account the fact that the Reds have a game in hand, and the festive period is expected to be a pleasant experience for the Reds with games against Leicester City and West Ham United. Everything is on the cards for Liverpool, including the reputation of the teams in first place at Christmas. Ten of the last fifteen teams to occupy this spot have gone on to win the title, setting up a bright new year for the Reds.