time speaks volumes as Liverpool send stunning message

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If Liverpool's Premier League title rivals had just started to believe the leaders were feeling the heat after back-to-back draws either side of a Merseyside derby postponement then they have been sorely mistaken.

Instead, Arne Slot's rejuvenated Reds made a difficult assignment at Tottenham Hotspur look easy as they plundered six goals to Spurs' three in what was undoubtedly the wildest game of the head coach's time at the club. Slot may hold commodities like control and clarity close to his heart but this was nothing of the sort, even if anything other than a Liverpool victory never really looked on the cards.

The league leaders were dragged into the sort of game that Spurs would have wanted before kick-off, but the result was a scintillating show from the Reds.

A stunning attacking performance in North London now ensures their name will sit in top spot for Christmas Day and while the significance is largely symbolic only, the nature of the display from a team who are now four points clear of their closest competitors Chelsea will be enough to make the chasing pack sit up and wince. Make no mistake, Liverpool remain firmly in control of their own destiny.

If Ange Postcecoglou's plan was to get into a straight shootout, then the Spurs boss got his wish for a game that was seared in confusion and seasoned with chaos. But it was a major mistake from the Australian, who, for the second time this week, saw his players embroiled in a baffling contest laden with goals.

Only this time, he wasn't asking his players to emerge from the mayhem against a squad as limited as Manchester United's. Instead, the decision to go toe to toe with a side who can legitimately lay claim to being Europe's finest right now came back to haunt Postecoglou, who has now seen 16 goals scored this week across the two games here. Pragmatism should not be considered a dirty word for Postecoglou, whose side were clinically outgunned here.

After creating a handful of openings in the early going the Reds deservedly had their lead when Luis Diaz, who was restored to the No.9 position once more, gave Trent Alexander-Arnold's sublime delivery the finish it so richly deserved. The Colombia international steered home a header like he had spent his entire career operating as a striker and the celebration between the pair - where Diaz 'cleaned' Alexander-Arnold's right boot - paid obvious tribute to the fantastic cross from the vice-captain to set up the chance.

Liverpool continued to pile forward and looked like scoring every time they swept into Spurs' third. It eventually came when Alexis Mac Allister pounced inside the six-yard box after the tireless Dominik Szoboszlai had been caught between two defenders trying to win a header.

The two-goal advantage was nothing less than what Slot's leaders were worthy of but Spurs responded with their first real effort when James Maddison finished smartly after Mac Allister had been pickpocketed by Dejan Kulusevski.

It looked like the goal might give the hosts the impetus before the break but the cushion was soon restored when Alexander-Arnold's clearance was turned into something more substantial by Szoboszlai, who won a flick-on for Mohamed Salah before carrying on his run and finishing off the return pass. It was a devastating move.

Hungary captain Szoboszlai has had accusations of a lack of output in the goals and assists column levelled at him but he was once more excellent in a big game for the Reds. His running power and ability to press gave Spurs no respite at the back and he had the quality in possession when it was really needed. He is becoming so tactically important for what Slot is trying to do now, particularly in the more glamorous fixtures.

And a word for Salah, whose assist saw him become the first Premier League player in history to reach double figures for both goals (now 15) and assists (now 11) before Christmas. The two goals snaffled after the break, both after more hard running and unselfish play from Szoboszlai, means Salah now has the most goal contributions by Premier League players across all competitions this season, 10 more than his closest rival, Bukayo Saka.

Now up to fourth in the club's all-time list of scorers with 229, behind only Ian Rush, Roger Hunt and Gordon Hodgson, Salah has arguably been in the form of his career since August, which is quite the claim considering the legendary tenure he has enjoyed on Merseyside. It's a period that has to be extended, however the agreement over his contract is reached; the Egyptian is desperate to stay and some wage structures are worth breaking, however proud you are of the prudent manner of the way the football club is run.

Spurs responded with efforts from Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke but the hosts never had a deficit that was less than two goals once it went to 3-1. Luis Diaz eased any lingering fears in the away end of a late Spurs rally when he dispatched another razor-sharp attack to make it 6-3 and belatedly extinguish the hosts' hopes.

Postecoglou was moved to channel his inner Russell Crowe when asked by Sky Sports after Thursday's 4-3 win over United to assess the madness of what happens at this particular stadium under his guidance. "Are you not entertained?!" he joked, referencing The Gladiator film, whose famous line he borrowed for the quip.

This time there would be no chance to offer up such a slick post-match soundbite as Slot's rampant team ripped through a backline that offered little resistance for much of the contest. This wasn't so much Gladiator Maximus putting his feared nemesis to the sword as it was the defenceless victim being thrown to the lions.

And the speed at which the 'Spurs 3-6 Liverpool' scoreline was taken down off the two giant scoreboards at each end of this impressive stadium said it all as the home fans streamed for the exits at full time. They were not entertained.