TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, NORTH LONDON // Liverpool extended its superb record away at Tottenham with a hefty win over under-pressure Ange Postecoglou. Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz and several others excelled with their side now four points clear with a game in hand at the top.
Szoboszlai added a third Liverpool goal after Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister had beaten Fraser Forster before Mohamed Salah fired home in the second half. James Maddison had earlier pulled one back but Liverpool was thoroughly deserving of its lead. When Salah made it 5-1, some in the home end headed for the exits with the home crowd left in a stunned silence.
Dejan Kulusevski got one back and Dominic Solanke a third, but the result, by that point, had long been sealed. It finished 6-3 with Diaz getting a second. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded in North London.
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Liverpool boss Slot went with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai ahead of Curtis Jones in the more advanced midfield roles and that proved to be the right call. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai scored and the latter, in particular, was sensational.
As the number six, Gravenberch held things together at the base while driving forward plenty of times. And between that trio, they got a grip of the game in the main.
Spurs were always going to create chances with the number of bodies they throw forward. But Liverpool was able to cope well with that and limit and control the threat as much as realistically possible. Scoring six goals, Szoboszlai was central. It was a perfect tactic to go with him and he delivered on the trust that was instilled in him.
Arne Slot puts down latest marker
Arne Slot spoke in glowing terms about the style of play that Ange Postecoglou has installed at Spurs before this game. Within three minutes, though, Fraser Forster, who had a nightmare midweek against Manchester United, had passed the ball straight to Salah in the penalty area. Fortunately for the shot-stopper, the Egyptian hit the side-netting on that occasion, though he did net twice later on.
This was not a bad Spurs showing. It did not give up chances and goals anywhere near as it has at times under Postecoglou, but the gulf to Liverpool was clear. It was more that the Reds were good then the host was poor. Putting down a marker and largely being in control of things, Slot's men showed why they lead the standings as the halfway stage nears.
Luis Diaz puts VARce behind him
At the center of the VAR controversy in this fixture last season, Luis Diaz got one back over Spurs here. Robbed of a goal in this stadium last year, nothing could stop him powering home a header in the first half. It would have helped had one of the Tottenham defenders picked him up, but left unmarked, his finish was unerring.
Selected over Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota through the middle of Slot's attack, he justified that decision. Cody Gakpo next to him was bright too, while Salah kept Djed Spence busy. The midfield trio were the stars of the show but the forward line played its part as well. Salah and Diaz ended up scoring twice each, and they could have had even more.
Depth returns... but not required
Brennan Johnson and the inexperienced but talented Lucas Bergvall were the only really threatening options for Ange Postecoglou to bring off the bench. Slot, in contrast, could turn to numerous attacking players — with Federico Chiesa left on Merseyside and not required. None of the bench were needed to turn the game but leaving the Italian at home speaks volumes about the depth of the Liverpool roster.
With only Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley out injured for the Reds at the moment, the whole squad is looking very healthy. That can change quickly, of course, but at a busy time of year — when Liverpool will be back in North London in just a few weeks for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final — having an many options as possible will be vital. The Reds are going places.
Premier League picture shifts
Going into the game with two Premier League matches in hand on every potential title rival, Liverpool was in a strong position on paper, but with matches against Spurs and Everton, both away from home, to play. Nothing could be taken for granted in terms of those fixtures leading to the three points being won, but the first has now been taken care of.
Already confirmed as being top of the table at Christmas with Everton having held Chelsea to a goalless draw at Goodison Park earlier in the afternoon, Liverpool was one ahead of the Stamford Bridge outfit and three above Arsenal having played two games fewer. That gap is now four points and six points respectively with one more game in hand to be played.