Liverpool Echo

Alisson's reason for waiting in tunnel for Tottenham star after Liverpool's 6-3 win

Tensions could have been high in the tunnel after Liverpool thumped Tottenham 6-3, but Alisson took some time to speak with one Spurs ace the Brazilian keeper has close ties to

Alisson Becker enjoyed a post-match embrace with Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison after Liverpool's festive thumping of Spurs, as they thrashed the north Londoners 6-3.

Arne Slot's side managed to open up a four-point lead over second-placed Chelsea on Sunday – and the Reds still have a game in hand on their nearest challengers due to the away trip to Everton being postponed earlier in the month. While there was plenty to smile about for Liverpool, Tottenham were left to digest their 8th Premier League defeat of the campaign.

Despite the result and the many tetchy moments between the two teams during the game, Alisson had a pleasant embrace with former Toffee, Richarlison, in the tunnel.

Despite the outcome of the game, Richarlison was pleased to catch up with the goalkeeper, as captured on Liverpool's tunnel cam and shared on YouTube. Ex-Everton forward Richarlison was spotted standing in the corridor between the changing rooms in the tunnel, wearing a large Tottenham winter coat with his hood up. As Alisson passed by, the keeper paused, smiled and embraced his fellow countryman.

While they were hugging, James Maddison, who netted an impressive goal against him in the first-half, also shook hands with Alisson. After a short while, Richarlison and Alisson returned to their respective changing rooms.

The pair have been friends for many years, having played alongside each other for the Brazilian national team. Richarlison and Alisson were regular starters for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the Tottenham forward scoring one of the best goals in the tournament.

At the moment, there is not much to cheer for Richarlison or any of his Tottenham team-mates, though, as Spurs will be down in 11th in the Premier League table when the Christmas puddings are dished out.

However, despite pumping six goals past one of the most established clubs in the Premier League, Arne Slot was not completely satisfied by the performance.

The Dutchman said: "For 60 minutes we did everything we had to do, we were comfortable and good with the ball. The main thing is we worked very, very hard.

LFC: Join our WhatsApp community, sign up to a newsletter or listen to our podcasts _HERE

"But then the same players with the same quality thought that 10 or 15 minutes of not working as hard was good enough. Tottenham have enough quality to score goals if you give them chances. You have to be on top of your game for the whole game and we didn’t do that."

Slot added: "The first 50-55 minutes is what you want, apart from the goal we conceded. 3-1 up and then it ended up being 5-1. We thought it was enough but Tottenham have far too much quality and they're able to create and score.

"Against every team, there's an opportunity. If they go for man for man which they did for the first goal, then it needs one player to outplay the other and then you have an extra man. They have a very good idea about football."

Liverpool have a number of players walking a disciplinary tightrope in the Premier League

Liverpool may be four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand but a number of their players will have to tread carefully during the festive programme. Five Reds are within one booking of having to serve a one-match suspension for accruing five cautions during the first half of the top-flight campaign.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo both picked up their fourth yellow cards of the Premier League season during the 6-3 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate have previously reached four bookings, while Alexis Mac Allister has already served a one-match ban for picking up five yellows in the top-flight term.

Players who accrue five bookings inside the opening 19 Premier League games are handed a one-match ban. The amnesty then changes to a two-match suspension for reaching 10 bookings after 32 games, and a three-game ban for totalling 15 at any point in the campaign.

Liverpool have played 16 Premier League matches so far this season, meaning the quintet have to negotiate another three matches, starting with the home clash against Leicester City on Boxing Day evening. The Reds are then at West Ham United on December 29 before entertaining bitter North West rivals Manchester United the following Sunday.

Konate in any case is unlikely to be available for at least the next two games as he continues to recover from the knee injury that has sidelined him since the Champions League win over Real Madrid a month ago.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the next Reds player in danger of a Premier League ban having accrued three bookings so far this campaign.

Arne Slot could again make a number of changes to his side when Liverpool host Leicester City on Boxing Day

Liverpool put in a remarkable team performance as they thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 on Sunday. Mohamed Salah was in electric form for the Reds, returning two goals and two assists to help his side extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points.

Luis Diaz also registered a brace, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were also both on the scoresheet as Arne Slot lauded his team’s performance as one of their very best attacking displays since he took over as head coach.

Now in the thick of the Premier League festive period, Liverpool will be back in action on Boxing Day as they host Leicester City.

Having made seven changes to his side against Spurs, Slot is expected to make use of his squad once more. And with so many of his offensive players shining in the capital, the ECHO takes a look at the changes the Dutchman could consider against the Foxes…

Robertson rested?

Liverpool are still a little light defensively because of injury, but following Kostas Tsimikas’ return from an ankle injury against Southampton in the League Cup, the Greek at least offers Arne Slot the option to rotate at left-back if required and could be in line for a first start since his return.

If not, Andy Robertson will continue at left-back after impressing against Spurs on his return from suspension.

Jarell Quansah is an alternative at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, if Slot wishes to rest either Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joe Gomez. Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley both remain sidelined.

Jones pushing for a recall

It would be incredibly harsh to bench Szoboszlai against Leicester, after arguably his most impressive showing in a Liverpool shirt at Spurs. But Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are the alternatives if Slot does wish to rotate at number 10.

Alternatively, Jones could also come in for Mac Allister in a deeper midfield position as Slot continues to manage his squad carefully. Ryan Gravenberch is likely to keep his place, with Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton both on standby at number six if required.

Jota makes first start after injury

Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez will both be vying to start if Slot opts to rotate his attack against Leicester, with the Portuguese perhaps well-placed to make his first start since his return from injury.

With Luis Diaz catching the eye against Spurs, he could keep his starting place but move to his preferred left-wing position, with Cody Gakpo instead making way for either centre-forward.

Mohamed Salah will likely start on the right, with Elliott and Federico Chiesa - who missed the trip to Spurs - the main alternatives if the in-form Egyptian is rotated during a frenetic festive period.

When Tottenham Hotspur overcame nine-man Liverpool at home last season, courtesy of a last-minute Joel Matip own goal, the celebrations that followed were wild. It was only September 30 but with 'Angeball' all the rage, Spurs were understandably excited.

Admittedly, they were second in the table and still unbeaten after seven games following the win, but their reaction prompted raised eyebrows from onlookers.

They had faced 10 men for 64 minutes and nine men for 21 minutes, after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were both controversially sent off, before Matip put into his own net in the 96th minute. But they also benefited greatly from a Luis Diaz strike infamously being incorrectly chalked off for offside by VAR, with the mistake was put down to ‘significant human error’.

Evidently, that took nothing away from the celebrations of Ange Postecoglou’s side as they did a lap of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as victory music continued to play, and even brought their children onto the pitch to take it all in.

Their Premier League unbeaten start would stretch to 10 games, by which point they sat top of the table. But then three successive defeats and a five-game winless run derailed them. And so by the end of November they had dropped to fifth in the table.

They would spend the rest of the campaign flirting with a top four finish only to fall short come May. Never has the idiom, ‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,’ been more apt.

It perhaps went without saying that Tottenham are a club who have not won a league title since 1961, and have lifted only two trophies since 1991. It is understandable why they allowed themselves to get carried away. But the reaction, both over the top and premature, is also why they fail.

Now 15 months later and those celebrations were chalk and cheese to Liverpool’s own reaction after inflicting an absolute massacre on Spurs on their first return to the scene of that ‘significant’ crime.

A 6-3 victory did not flatter the Reds as Diaz in particular inflicted personal revenge with a brace. In truth, they should have scored more and it was only their own complacency that granted Tottenham a slightly more respectable final scoreline.

During proceedings, with Liverpool even leading 5-1 at one point, supporters inevitably sang how their side were top of the league and would not be moved. They would offer Christmas carols too, already safe in the knowledge that they would stay top going into the festive period, with the Reds’ version of ‘O come all ye faithful’ a particular favourite in the capital.

But beyond that, in truth, celebrations were rather muted - especially when you consider the emphatic nature of their win over one of the Premier League’s bigger names.

This was, after all, a test that even Jamie Carragher labelled a "really big moment" on Sky Sports in the build-up.. The significance was not lost on anyone of a Red persuasion.

Perhaps things would have been different if Liverpool had won 6-1 rather than 6-3. Or maybe this is just the Arne Slot impact in full effect.

Gone is Jurgen Klopp’s emotional rock and roll football. Gone are the German-led wild celebrations and trademark fist pumps. Under his Dutch successor, the Reds have instead become ruthless, cold-hearted killers.

Their travelling supporters enjoyed their victory in North London, but as soon as the final whistle went, it was onto the next one. Rather than singing long and loud into the night, they returned their players’ and manager’s subtle applause and then went on their way, making the whole spectacle seem rather routine and underwhelming as opposed to this incredible show of attacking might.

Admittedly, the Liverpool dressing room made no secret of their displeasure with their defensive display following the final whistle, such are the high standards they continue to set for themselves.

But they also know they still have much bigger fish to fry. This is a side and fanbase that have both won every major honour and fallen agonisingly short in recent years. They know this marathon isn’t even yet half-run.

A 6-3 victory away at Tottenham, no matter how memorable, means nothing if you aren’t champions come May.

What the national media said about Liverpool's 6-3 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool steamrollered Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points. The Reds ran out 6-3 winners, but in truth, it could easily have been a lot more with only their own complacency to blame for Spurs’ prominence on the scoreboard.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz both scored braces, while the Egyptian claimed two assists too on another record-breaking day for the in-form forward. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also got their names on the scoresheet as Liverpool ran riot in the capital.

Arne Slot’s men have now won 21 of his 25 matches to date, and still only suffered defeat once. With their victory over Tottenham one of their most impressive showings yet, the ECHO rounds up the national media reaction to the Reds’ North London massacre…

Alyson Rudd of The Times thoroughly enjoyed herself in the capital as Liverpool proved, once again, that they are in the Premier League title-race for the long-haul.

She wrote: “Arne Slot is not a showman and under his command Liverpool have been efficient in giving us spurts of beauty and breathtaking pace and finishing — but not too often. It is a harrowing and draining campaign and the Dutchman plans for the long haul.

“But sometimes an opponent is so open and so vulnerable that it is harder to be deadpan than witty, and so Liverpool played as if with a fit of the giggles. This was great fun and, crucially, did not sap the team at all.

“Slot tried to be annoyed at the three goals conceded but admitted that, in the main, he really enjoyed himself. Managers tend to hate games such as this, where both teams are guilty of lapses in concentration and there is an element of pantomime.

“But you will struggle to find a Liverpool supporter who was at any juncture worried about a Tottenham Hotspur fightback. Indeed, the performance merely underlined that in Slot, the club has a master of timing and rotation.”

The Telegraph’s Jason Burt would christen Mohamed Salah ‘the best player in the Premier League - and it’s not even close’, following his electrifying display against Spurs.

He wrote: “Liverpool have the imperious touch of champions and there was only one Maximus on this display. Only one gladiator. Only one winner. It was, as so often, Mohamed Salah who tore Tottenham apart with two more goals and two more assists.

“He almost scored three times in the opening 10 minutes, hitting the crossbar, and was just about unstoppable throughout. He strikes fear. The Egyptian really is in a league of his own.

“Salah’s contract situation, with his current deal running out next June, has been well-discussed but the 32-year-old could do well to take a leaf out of Kevin De Bruyne’s playbook when it comes to negotiations.

“With his last deal at Manchester City, which also expires at the end of this campaign, De Bruyne brought up the data to reinforce his worth. Salah can simply say to Liverpool: “look at my numbers. Look at the facts”.”

The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew was impressed by how easily Liverpool exposed Tottenham.

He wrote: “Liverpool are serious about this. They’re not in London for souvenirs or sightseeing. They had a game four days earlier, they’ve got another in four days’ time, and so all they really want for Christmas is to get in, get the points and get out. They’d rather do it clean. But they’ll do it dirty if they have to.

“Above all, they know exactly what they want. Luis Díaz wants to spin off his man and run from deep, and Ryan Gravenberch wants to plug the gaps and get the ball moving, Dominik Szoboszlai wants you to commit, but not until he’s put you half a step off balance first, and Mo Salah wants to be Mo Salah. They can go short or long, hit you from every angle, hurt you from every bit of the pitch. Nine Liverpool players made a key pass in this game, including the goalkeeper and both full-backs…

“Amid the carnage of the second half, there was also an immense and ominous coolness to them, the unerring ability to execute under pressure the thing that is required, and to keep doing it over and over. This is the difference between a serious and an unserious team.

“And there is nothing inevitable about this. Tottenham and Liverpool may feel gulfs apart, but in reality they are the eighth- and seventh-richest clubs in the world, fishing in the same water. Tottenham could have had Arne Slot in 2023. Tottenham could have had Díaz in 2022. Tottenham could have assembled a proper backroom structure years ago, instead of leaving their fate in the hands of a spiralling succession of celebrity managers.”

Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail pointed out that Liverpool know exactly how good they are as they made sure it was ‘men against confused and disorientated boys’ in the capital.

He wrote: “Liverpool are the team to beat while Tottenham are – for the time being at least – the team that anybody could hope to beat.

“Arne Slot’s Liverpool head into Christmas top of the Premier League and rightly so. They were magnificent here. Hungry, clinical and overflowing with festive fervour. What a sight they were with the ball…

“They (Spurs) will know what it is they witnessed on the whole, though. They will know what this was. It was a hiding. A thrashing. Men against boys and confused and disorientated boys at that.

“Liverpool will push on towards the New Year knowing how good they are, driven on by the knowledge that Manchester City are gone from the race.”

Richard Jolly of The Independent lauded Liverpool for the ease at which Arne Slot’s men overcame Tottenham.

He wrote: “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 certainly their most explosive attacking display, 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 luckless enough to be his immediate opponent…

“Because 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.”

And finally, the Liverpool ECHO’s very own LFC correspondent Paul Gorst was impressed at how Liverpool ripped through Tottenham to send a statement to their Premier League rivals.

He wrote: “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.

“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…

“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.”

'If we had gone into the dressing room' - Arne Slot makes incredible Liverpool claim

Arne Slot reacts after Liverpool's 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League

Arne Slot labelled Liverpool's 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as "an incredible display" but felt his side were punished for taking their foot off the gas after an hour to let their hosts back into the contest.

The Reds moved four points clear of Chelsea in second as two goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were registered alongside efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored for the hosts.

Liverpool took a 3-1 lead into the break before scoring twice more through Salah after the restart and Slot was delighted with what he saw up to that point but sounded a note of caution for how the final third of the fixture played out.

"Yeah, until 60-65 minutes I really really really enjoyed what I saw," Slot said. "Of course, we were caught one time in bringing the ball out from the back, and that immediately led to a goal for Tottenham.

"You think if we had gone into the dressing room with a 2-1 lead, that would have not done justice to all the chances we had. That’s why I was quite happy that we scored the 3-1 then 4-1, 5-1, incredible display.

"But then also saw that no matter how much quality players have, if they think they don’t have to run any more, and in this league, especially against Tottenham because they are so good with the ball as well, they immediately start to create and that’s what they did. They scored two goals and I was happy when our sixth went in to be fair."

Arne Slot discussed Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League after winning at Tottenham

Arne Slot has admitted his surprise at Chelsea dropping points at Everton on Sunday. The London outfit had the chance to overtake Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table at Christmas, only to miss the opportunity by drawing 0-0 at Goodison Park.

With the Reds running out 6-3 winners over Tottenham Hotspur, they extended their advantage to four points and still boast a game in hand over their title-rivals.

Slot admits it means something for his side to boast an advantage as the Premier League season nears its halfway point. But he has warned Liverpool that there is still a long way to go as he reiterated the competitiveness on show from top to bottom in the English top-flight.

“Of course it means something,” he said. “You always prefer to be where we are at the moment than in another position in the league table.

“But you know as well as I know – because I have won the league once – how hard it is to win it. You have to keep on going, every three days be on top of your game for every minute of every game.

“That’s why it is so hard to win it. It is not always easy to show up every three or four days. Last week you saw it is easy to get a red card in one moment, it was quite a debate afterwards, not by me but by other people.

“These things can happen in a season. At Newcastle, we were 3-2 up, you expect to win it and we dropped two points but that’s the Premier League.

“I didn’t expect Chelsea to drop points today as well, it can happen in any game and that’s what makes the league so special. That’s why so many people want to watch it and that’s why we play at Christmas time.”

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.

Liverpool are looking to stay top of the Premier League table on Christmas day when they face Tottenham Hotspur in north London this afternoon. The Reds have lead the way for several weeks after an incredible start to the season under new boss Arne Slot, but Chelsea are breathing down their necks after an impressive run of form of their own.

The Reds face an inconsistent Tottenham team who sit 10th in the table despite being the league's second top scorers. Liverpool go into the game on the back of two consecutive league draws, away at Newcastle and at home to Fulham, and will be desperate to get back to winning ways.

Slot is without Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley for the game, with the pair still working on their recoveries from injuries sustained during the win over Real Madrid in November. The Dutchman otherwise boasts a fully fit squad to choose from after the return of Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa in the past week.

Spurs will be without as many as 10 first team players for the game. First choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains injured, as are key men Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero as well as Ben Davies. Destiny Udogie and Timo Werner are hoping to be fit to play, though.

Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle and Theo Squires will be at the Tottenham Stadium for live score updates, team news and analysis throughout the afternoon, with all the best match reaction to follow.

Former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has revealed that he once rejected a move to Tottenham Hotspur prior to signing for the Reds

Arne Slot’s incredible start to life as Liverpool head coach shows no signs of slowing down as the Reds head into the Premier League’s festive period. They currently sit top of the Premier League by two points, and also boast a game in hand.

Chelsea could admittedly overtake them on Sunday prior to Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur, courtesy of the Londoners travelling to Everton in the earlier kick-off, but the Reds are in a particularly strong position as they pursue only their second league title since 1990.

Meanwhile, they sit comfortably atop the Champions League league phase table, having won all six of their matches to date and are on the verge of sealing their place in next year’s round-of-16.

Throw in a League Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur to look forward to in the New Year, plus the visit of League Two Accrington Stanley to Anfield in the FA Cup third round, and things are looking rosy for Slot and his side.

Overseeing 20 victories from his 24 matches to date, losing just once, the Dutchman - who rejected taking over at Tottenham last year - has made a mockery of doubters who thought Liverpool would collapse following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.

But the former Feyenoord boss is not the first man to thrive after trading De Kuip for Anfield, with both Jerzy Dudek and Dirk Kuyt both previously making the same switch - albeit during their playing careers - and becoming club icons in the process.

Meanwhile, like Slot, Kuyt even turned down a switch to Tottenham a year before making his move to Liverpool too.

The forward joined the Reds in a £10m move from Feyenoord in the summer of 2006, and went on to score 71 goals from 285 appearances during six years at Anfield. But the former Netherlands international could have made the move to England 12 months earlier.

Having just won the Eredivisie Golden Boot with 29 goals in 2004/05 - netting 36 goals from 44 appearances in all competitions - Kuyt attracted interest from Tottenham at the end of the summer transfer window. But he rejected their advances as he did not wish to leave Feyenoord without a striker.

"One year before I left for Liverpool, I was able to go to Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the transfer market,” he recalled on the Kieft Jansen Egmond Gijp podcast last year. “Spurs chairman Daniel Levy called, he wanted me.

“I thought that was a very strange moment to leave Feyenoord behind. Leaving Feyenoord without a striker, albeit with a bag of money. Then [agent] Rob Jansen and I decided together not to do that.”

Why Kuyt would reject Spurs’ advances, the lure of Liverpool proved too big in August 2006 following a 25-goal campaign for Feyenoord. And speaking at the time, the forward admitted that then Netherlands manager Marco van Basten helped him decide to move on after telling him he had grown ‘too big’ for Dutch football.

"Marco van Basten has told me this is a very good move not only for myself but for the Dutch team,” he said. "He thinks I have become too big for football in Holland and I need a move to a bigger club.

“And he thinks Liverpool is a good club for me. It is a dream that a club like Liverpool with their history wanted me.

“The beginning of the week I was just stunned by things, now it is a privilege to play for them. I think my game is suited to England, I think I am a typical type of player for the Premier League.

"I know there is a lot of competition up front, but that is only good for the team. Not everybody can play 50-60 games a season."