On an electric Sunday afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Liverpool served a resounding reminder of why they are the team to beat in this season’s Premier League title race. Arne Slot’s rampaging Reds ran out 6-3 winners against a shell-shocked Spurs side, with attacking stars Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz leading the charge.
Salah and Díaz Shine in Attacking Masterclass
The lethal duo of Salah and Díaz were at the heart of everything good about Liverpool’s performance. The Colombian opened the scoring with a deft header from a pinpoint Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, before later doubling his tally to round off the scoring.
But it was Salah who stole the show, becoming the first player in Premier League history to register double figures for both goals and assists before Christmas. The Egyptian King took his tallies to 18 goals and 15 assists for the season in all competitions – phenomenal numbers that have him on track to challenge his own record-breaking 2017-18 campaign.
Slot’s System Paying Dividends
While individual brilliance was on full display, this performance also showcased the well-oiled machine that Liverpool have become under Slot’s stewardship. The fluidity and understanding between the attacking players was mesmerizing at times, with the midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and James Maddison providing the perfect platform.
When we’re in full flow like that, I don’t think there’s a team in the world that can live with us.
– Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Transfer Strategy Contrast
Intriguingly, Liverpool’s star performers on the day – Díaz, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai – were all players that Tottenham had scouted or pursued in recent transfer windows. The trio’s combined £100m+ transfer fees raised eyebrows in some quarters, but their instant impact has vindicated the club’s proactive recruitment approach.
In contrast, Spurs’ more cautious transfer strategy was brutally exposed, with a makeshift defence struggling to contain Liverpool’s attacking riches. With Harry Kane cutting an isolated figure up front, the gap between the two sides felt chasmic at times.
Alexander-Arnold Underlines Importance
On a day of many positives, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to form was particularly encouraging for Liverpool. The homegrown right-back grabbed a brilliant assist for Díaz’s opener and looked back to his creative best throughout.
With uncertainty surrounding his future beyond this season, performances like this underline just how crucial the 24-year-old is to making Slot’s system tick. Keeping hold of their assist king could prove Liverpool’s best bit of business yet.
Fortress Anfield Awaits
As the Reds prepare to host midweek visitors Aston Villa, their title rivals will be acutely aware there is little margin for error. Four points clear with a game in hand, Slot’s side have the destiny of the Premier League crown firmly in their sights.
- Manchester City fell to a shock 4-0 home defeat to Spurs earlier this season
- In-form Newcastle and Manchester United are still five points adrift of the summit
With Mohamed Salah in this kind of form and a watertight defence marshalled by the imperious Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool will take some stopping. On the evidence of their Tottenham demolition job, it will take something truly special to knock the Reds off their perch this season.
