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-Arnold was 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 League goals this season.
It was all underpinned by Slot’s blueprint. He spent Friday morning praising Postecoglou and Sunday afternoon exploiting Spurs’ shortcomings. If they were killed with kindness, Tottenham were unlocked by Liverpool’s intelligence and incision. Spurs, unfortunate to be missing their first-choice centre-backs, with their preferred left-back only fit enough to be on the bench and minus their best goalkeeper, appeared a shambles at the back if – characteristically – capable of scoring three goals in attack.
So Spurs are in the bottom half at Christmas, Liverpool top of the tree. More importantly, they gave plenty of indications they will still be there in May. Even amid the chaos that is a feature of Tottenham’s games, much of it felt planned. Spurs’ capacity to concede from corners under Postecoglou has been an issue. They floundered here under a different form of aerial attack, two headers from crosses in open play. They also struggled to track runners from midfield, a factor in the second and third goals. Their high line was exploited for the fifth. It felt as though Slot had noted their weaknesses and then set about capitalising on them.
Tottenham may reflect the damage could have been worse. Salah, who had five shots in the first 18 minutes alone, rifled one against the bar. Szoboszlai rounded Fraser Forster but only finding the side-netting. Alexander-Arnold drew a wonderful save from the goalkeeper with a vicious effort from long range. Diaz lobbed the goalkeeper, stranded in no-man’s land, but found the roof of the net.
And, not for the first time, Spurs felt their own worst enemies. The tone was set when Forster passed straight to Salah in the second minute. He was reprieved when the Egyptian shot into the side-netting. Parity did not last long.
Diaz had a goal controversially disallowed away at Tottenham last season. He bookended the scoring here with a brace, ending his seven-game goal drought, rewarding Slot’s decision to use a winger as a striker. He delivered a typical No 9’s goal with a diving header from Alexander-Arnold’s wonderful cross, eluding Radu Dragusin and Pedro Porro. His second was a more familiar Diaz goal, driven in from Salah’s pass.
Liverpool’s second was notable because two of their central midfielders emerged unchecked within a few yards of Tottenham’s goal. It paid off. When Andy Robertson crossed, Szoboszlai won the first header and Alexis Mac Allister, who had gone unchecked on a burst from deep, headed in. It was a run that was testament to the Argentinian’s footballing intelligence. But the rampant Szoboszlai was similarly unmarked when he ran on to Salah’s pass to score the third.
Slot’s unusually emphatic celebration may have signified that he felt the game was over. Far from it. Despite two blocks by Archie Gray, Salah was able to add the fourth after Cody Gakpo’s low cross. Then he had a tap-in, supplied by Szoboszlai.
But Spurs had reduced the deficit before half-time when James Maddison curled in a shot from 20 yards. Then they mustered a late double. The indefatigable Dejan Kulusevski volleyed in from Son Heung-min’s pass. The former Liverpool forward Dominic Solanke conjured a close-range finish from Brennan Johnson’s header.
Diaz ensured there was no astonishing comeback, no 5-5 draw. He scored Liverpool’s sixth goal on a day when he and Salah had seven shots apiece and Szoboszlai six. There was entertainment aplenty. It was Angeball in its flawed glory. Though, admittedly, very flawed.