TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, NORTH LONDON // Liverpool extended its lead at the summit of the Premier League table with Dominik Szoboszlai starring for the Reds and Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch excelling too.
In a nine-goal thriller, Diaz opened the scoring after a brilliant cross into the box from Trent Alexander-Arnold teed him up. Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai both then scored before the interval with James Maddison pulling one back in between.
It was always going to be a game filled with goals and it took only nine minutes of the second half for Mohamed Salah to add his name to the scoresheet. Seven minutes later, he had his second and Liverpool's fifth before Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke made it 5-3.
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With the scoring still not done, Diaz got his second and Liverpool's sixth, by which time it is a good job there was a screen inside the stadium to remind those watching of the score. It was 6-3 to the visitor in an early Christmas cracker.
Winners
Szoboszlai was central to pretty much everything that Liverpool did on the day, all while working his socks off without the ball too. This is what the Hungarian captain is capable of when he ties all the best elements of his match together. He was superb here, as were the other midfielders. Mac Allister popped up with a header while Gravenberch ate up the ground.
Losers
Missing out on this game completely, Federico Chiesa wasn't even named among the substitutes. Darwin Nunez, meanwhile, found himself on the bench even though Diogo Jota was involved from the off. With Jota, who is still coming back from injury, it makes sense; for the Uruguayan striker, it is not a good sign that this is happening regularly and in big games.
Player ratings
Alisson Becker (7). Untested during the first half when he barely touched the ball. He could do nothing with the Maddison shot that beat him, nor the other two goals. He made a good save low to his right near the end of the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7). Produced a wonderful cross to assist the opener from Diaz and sprayed some really nice passes. Did a good job up against Son Heung-min defensively too. Better in the first half and faded in the second.
Joe Gomez (7). Covered the ground really well at the back when Alexander-Arnold was pushing forward to attack. A tricky task with Son playing down that flank. Defended well and put in some great blocks but turned a bit easily on the Kulusevski goal.
Virgil van Dijk (8). Strong and composed up against Dominic Solanke. He confidently set the high defensive line and played some switches across to Salah's path too.
Andy Robertson (7). Back in the team with something of a point to prove after he was sent off early on against Fulham last weekend, he did well against Dejan Kulusevski, who is an excellent player at his best. Composed on the ball and well-positioned defensively. Probably beaten a bit easily in the air by Brennan Johnson for the third Spurs goal.
Ryan Gravenberch (8). Away from home against a team as expansive and attack-minded as Spurs, this was likely to be one of the biggest tests of how good Gravenberch can play his holding role in a defensive sense. It would be fair to say he passed that with flying colors. He covered kilometer after kilometer and was excellent at winning the ball back and then driving forward with it.
Alexis Mac Allister (8). Refreshed from a couple of matches sidelined through a suspension, the Argentine kept things ticking over in the middle and also found the time to break forward and score a header when the ball broke free in the box. Curtis Jones was unlucky to be benched, but the starting trio bossed things here. Mac Allister was very much a part of that.
Dominik Szoboszlai (9). Chosen ahead of Jones for his running power and physicality in the number 10 role, Szoboszlai was sensational. He was instrumental to everything Liverpool did, particularly first half, including the brilliant move that he finished coolly just before half-time. The Hungarian tied everything together in the middle and had the required quality in front of goal too. Booked, but superb in and out of possession.
Mohamed Salah (8). Could perhaps have done better with the early gift from Fraser Forster. Hit the bar in the first half and looked very sharp up against Djed Spence. It took less than 10 minutes of the second half for him to add his name to the scoresheet having reached double figures for assists in the first. Seven more minutes passed before he got his second.
Luis Diaz (8). Playing through the middle, he tended to drift into wide areas rather than occupy the slightly makeshift center-back pairing of Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray. One of the few times he was in the middle, he powered home the opening goal (with no VRR controversy to get in the way this time...). Tied everything together and looked a natural in the number nine berth.
Cody Gakpo (7). The Dutch winger has been in good goalscoring form this season, netting nine so far in all competitions. He is well on track to beat last season's total of 16. He was bright here, even though he didn't find the back of the net. Gakpo played a role in the fourth goal and was often an out ball where he can hold things up because of his height and strength.
Substitutes
Diogo Jota (7). Like against Fulham, he looked so sharp when he came on. The Portugal striker buzzed around and caused problems, all while pressing relentlessly. He will be eyeing a start on Boxing Day against Leicester City, for sure.
Curtis Jones (7). Entered the match when the game was already long won, but kept things ticking over. Considering how well the starting trio did, he would have wanted to leave a positive impression. He did that.