FootyChatter.com

By HARRY BAMFORTH and IAN LADYMAN AT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM and MATT BARLOW AT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM and AADAM PATEL AT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM and LUKE POWER Published: 02: 00 AEDT, 23 December 2024 | Updated: 05: 55 AEDT, 23 December 2024 516 View comments By Harry Bamforth Mohamed Salah, Liverpool goalscorer, speaking to Sky Sports: On becoming Liverpool's fourth all-time leading goalscorer: By Harry Bamforth Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, on Sky Sports:

By Harry Bamforth Yep, he has broken another record. Every week I cover Liverpool, there will be a post about Mohamed Salah breaking some sort of record. There is a reason why though, it's because he is in the form of his life. Tonight Salah became the first player ever to reach double figures for both goals and assists before Christmas in a Premier League season. He has just been relentless this season, he now has 15 goals and 11 assists in the league and is top of the charts in both. This is the sixth Premier League season in which Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted 10 or more goals; the most of any player in the competition’s history. I mean, I am running out of superlatives for this man. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Apologies on my behalf for the sub-heading, but I just had to. This will be the 21st time Liverpool have been top of the English top-flight on Christmas Day; the most of any side. They have gone on to win the title in 11 of those previous 20 seasons, so just over a 50 per cent success rate. Not many would bet against them making it 12 from 21, I certainly wouldn't. It really is unbelievable how well they are doing under Arne Slot, sow quickly after his arrival. When the season started, if you told me they would be four points clear at the top of Christmas with a game in hand, there is no way I would have believed you. They have proved me, and a lot of others, wrong. By Harry Bamforth Gary Neville, former Man United captain, on Sky Sports: By Harry Bamforth While I thought we were going to be entertained, I will be the first to admit that I was not expecting that. Liverpool really were rampant, weren't they? Tottenham may not have the best defence, but to smash six past them away from home is pretty spectacular. I think it's what you call a Christmas cracker. .. I'm sorry. You have to feel for all the editors who have to put together the highlights package for that match. It will be one hell of a watch, though. Certainly for Liverpool fans. By Harry Bamforth What a match we have just witnessed. While there is a lot to comb through, we simply have to start with just how good Liverpool were. For 70 minutes, Arne Slot's side were imperious, ripping Tottenham apart at will. While the end of the match was a bit chaotic for their liking, it's still a statement win. They go top of the Premier League at Christmas with a game in hand, and my word they are going to be hard to catch. Liverpool are starting to look a little like champions (or is that too early? ) By Harry Bamforth And breathe. .. I'm finding it hard to find the words to describe that 90 minutes, it was utter carnage. At the end of it all, Liverpool have shipped six past Spurs away from home to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League. Not a bad Christmas present for those dressed in red. By Harry Bamforth This may sound weird, but I'm not sure that Arne Slot is going to be overly pleased with this Liverpool performance. He is a manager that loves control and the Reds have ended up being sucked into a crazy affair when they were in control. Interesting to see what he says at full-time. By Harry Bamforth Ah, that's disappointing. We are only going to get to watch five more minutes of this chaotic contest. I wish it could just go on forever, I already can't wait until the Carabao Cup semi-final. By Harry Bamforth Tottenham are the most ridiculous team in the history of football. There, I am saying it. They are still coming forward like they believe they can claw all three goals back. They nearly get one but Alisson gets low to deny Brennan Johnson. I really can't believe what I am watching, it's so silly. By Harry Bamforth Arne slot has had enough of the entertainment. .. The Dutchman hauls off both Mos Salah and Luis Diaz in the aftermath of the goal. What an afternoon they have had, they both deserve Man of the Match awards. By Harry Bamforth Well, that lasted long! Tottenham really do love to give us crackers and these last 10 minutes show that perfectly. Luis Diaz has his second and guess what? he was supplied by none other than Mo Salah. Are you not entertained? By Harry Bamforth What is going on? ?? Tottenham are somehow alive and kicking and Dominic Solanke has clawed back another goal. It's a lovely finish to turn home Brennan Johnson's header to give Sopurs some belief. This is back to being a game again and In can't believe that I am even writing that. What a mental team Spurs are. By Harry Bamforth Dejan Kulusevski is pretty much the only Spurs player who can hold his head high after this. He has been the only player to cause Liverpool any problems and he is continuing to drive Tottenham forward. He really is some player. By Harry Bamforth I don't feel like we have seen the last of the goalscoring yet. Liverpool are still going for another and it's become more end-to-end like early in the first half. Dominik Szoboszlai gets on the end of a lovely ball but can't keep his header on target. Moments later Trent Alexander-Arnold sees a cross-cum-shot palmed wide by Fraser Forster. By Harry Bamforth Oh, it should be six for Liverpool. Tottenham are throwing bodies forward and it means there is a lot of space for Liverpool to counter into. Mo Salah sends Luis Diaz galloping away and he sees Fraser Forster rushing out, so goes for the lob. It goes so high and just doesn't drop in time. By Harry Bamforth It's never over until it's over and the Tottenham fans are trying to encourage their team. The weird thing is about this side, you can't rule them out from getting another here. If they do that, it will be interesting. By Harry Bamforth That's a lovely finish from Dejan Kulusevski! No matter how much Tottenham are getting hammered, they will always keep going forward. Kulusevklsi volleys a lovely hit past Allisson but doesn't even summon a smile as he heads back to the halfway line. Surely they can't come back from this, eh? By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Arne Slot decides to rotate the roster because why not? Diogo Jota gets another runout as he comes on for Cody Gakpo, while Curtis Jones is on for Alexis Mac Allister. Hardly downgrades. .. By Harry Bamforth I want to give a quick word to Joe Gomez. The Liverpool centre-back has been sensational so far today and he makes another big tackle at the back yet again. Many were worried when Ibrahima Konate got injured against Real Madrid, but the Reds are in good hands. By Harry Bamforth This could still get a lot, lot worse for Tottenham. Liverpool are hungry for more and Trent Alexander-Arnold unleashes a stinging effort from 35 yards away. Fraser Forster does well to pal it past the post but just moments later Luis Diaz tests him again. This is just relentless, I can't keep up. By Matt Barlow At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Liverpool are in dreamland! I can't quite believe just how good the Reds are playing, they are tearing Tottenham to pieces. Mo Salah has his second of the night and it's another tap-in after another sweeping counter. Cody Gakpo plays in Dominik Szoboszlai, he slides it across to Salah and he makes no mistake. If this was a boxing match, it would be over. By Harry Bamforth James Maddison is not a happy lad in the slightest. Tottenham; 's goalscorer sees his number held aloft by the fourth official and looks to the ground. He is replaced by Brennan Johnson while Lucas Bergvall is on for Pape Sarr. This is not the easiest game for these youngsters to come into. By Harry Bamforth How has Dominik Szoboszlai not made it five? I was about to press the goal button as the Hungarian races through one-on-one, but no, he goes around Fraser Forster and can't find the net. I mean, If his side hadn't already scored four I think he'd be a little more annoyed. The way things are going, he will get another chance, I'm sure. By Harry Bamforth Mo Salah does get his goal! Liverpool really are ripping Tottenham apart here and it's now becoming a proper battering. They glide away on the counter with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz playing a give-and-go. Dominik Szoboszlai can't turn home Gakpo's cross but then Salah is there to score theasiest goal of his career. It's getting messy here now. By Harry Bamforth The yellow card is out again. Dominikl Szoboszlai will now have to tread carefully after halting a Tottenham counter-attack. I still just can't get over how quiet this stadium is, it's utterly bizarre. Even when that could was made they barely made any noise at all. By Harry Bamforth It doesn't feel like the Tottenham fans in this stadium feel there is a way back into this match, they are just so deflated. When this place gets rocking it can change games, but there is no sign of that happening here. By Harry Bamforth Trent Alexander-Arnold is putting on a passing masterclass. The full-back is spraying them about the park in style and he has just launched an incredible ball to Dominik Szoboszlai. When he plays like this, there aren't many better. By Harry Bamforth That break went rather quickly, didn't it? The two teams are back out on the turf and there have been no changes from either manager. And now we are back underway. Can Tottenham come back or will Liverpool continue to strut their stuff? By Harry Bamforth Tottenham's defensive record under Ange Postecoglou is pants. Yes, they may sound harsh, but it's true. Today Tottenham have conceded the opening goal in 14 different home games in the Premier League in 2024. That's he joint-most ever by a team within a calendar year in the competition. You can't win anything when you keep need to come from behind. By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Mo Salah just always has his say. he may not have scored any of Liverpool's goals, but of course, he has managed to grab an assist. Salah's set-up for Dominik Szoboszlai at the end of the half means he has contributed to goals in his last nine games in the Premier League. That's simply ridiculous, isn't it? By Harry Bamforth When Liverpool are at their very best, my word are they good to watch. Arne Slot's side have played some of the best football I have seen this season and this third goal was just beautiful. I thought Mo Salah had made the wrong pass when he decided to slide in Dominik Szoboszlai. Boy, was I wrong, eh? Liverpool fans, watch and enjoy this lovely bit of footie. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth There are a smattering of boos as the half-time whistle is blown. Tottenham have been completely outplayed by the league leaders and Dominik Szoboszlai's goal before the break has made it a really tough ask for them now. The Reds have been on fire and could even have scored more on another day. They are cruising in north London. By Harry Bamforth What do I know, eh? Liverpool shut me right up with one of the loveliest team goals you will see this campaign. They flow up the pitch in style and Mo Salah slides through Dominik Szoboszlai for their third. Normal service resumed. By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth That goal has completely changed the mood in this stadium. This place was a s flat as a pancake as they were watching their side really struggle. But they now have some hope and the fans have woken up. Liverpool are the team that now need half-time which is not something I thought I would be saying. By Harry Bamforth Out of nowhere! It's a horror show from Liverpool and they have given the hosts a route back into this game. Alexis Mac Allister loses out on the edge of his area and James Maddison then strokes the ball into the corner. A terrible goal to concede, and we have a game all of a sudden. By Harry Bamforth The Liverpool fans in the corner are in festive spirits. They are currently rattling off their own version of 'O Come, All Ye Faithful'. If their side continue to play like this then it will be a very Merry Christmas for them indeed. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Liverpool have their second! Alexis Mac Allister manages to beat a man a foot taller than him to nod the Reds into a commanding lead. It's lovely play once again from Liverpool as they work the ball back to front superbly, starting with Joe Gomez. Andy Robertson then dinos the ball to the back post which Dominik Szoboszlai nods back for Mac Allister to finish from three yards out. It's a long way back for Tottenham now. By Harry Bamforth Liverpool really are playing some lovely stuff today, this is the best they have looked since the start of the month against Man City. They have just strung together a brilliant few passes to beat the Spurs press out the back. Lovely, lovely footie. By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth We have our first booking of the day and it goes to Cody Gakpo. It actually comes at the end of a really promising Reds counter attack which they should do better from. Rayn Gravenberch slides the ball to Gakpo, but he loses it and lashes out trying to win it back. He was never getting away with that. By Harry Bamforth Tottenham really are clinging on here. Liverpool have them pinned back in their own box and are continually pumping in dangerous crosses and passes. But somehow Spurs stay alive. They need to get through this next ten minutes or they will be in real trouble. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Luis Diaz is well up for it today. This is his best performance in some time and he comes close to grabbing a second in a matter of minutes. He arrows a drive toward the bottom corner at some speed but Fraser Forster does well to get across and deny him. By Matt Barlow At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Tottenham are not going to hold back in search of an equaliser. They try to respond instantly and Dejan Kulusevski cuts in on the edge of the area. He gets a decent bending effort away but can't manage to find the target. We have a game on our hands everybody. By Harry Bamforth What a goal that is! That is Trent Alexander-Arnold at his very best as he swings in a sublime cross for Luis Diaz to head home. The ball is simply; y ridiculous, that alone should be enough to get him the contract he wants. It's a lovely header too from Diaz and nobody is taking that one away from him this time. The leaders lead in London. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth This is starting to get spicy and I love it! Spurs fans boo as Domink Szoboszlai and Son Heung-Min come together with the Spur skipper looking to break away. The referee shakes his head and Liverpool then counter, but the move is offside. It's becoming end-to-end like we all hoped for. By Matt Barlow At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth So close to the opener for Liverpool. Tottenham keep giving the ball away and this time Salah should make them pay. He shifts the ball onto his right foot with three players on him and does brilliantly to get a powerful effort away. It looks like it's heading int but then cannons back off the bar. By Harry Bamforth The chances are starting to come now and Tottenham have their first of the game. Pape Sarr blasts wide and then Liverpool go straight up the other end on the counter. Mo Salah gets two bites at the cherry after getting on the end of the move, but both efforts are blocked. This game is livening up. By Harry Bamforth Liverpool are looking threatening going forward, they really are. Luis Diaz does really well to pinch the ball from Pedro Porro after a ball is clipped over the top. He lays it off to Cody Gakpo on the edge of the box, but he leans back and sends the ball toward the stars. The Dutchman should do better. By Harry Bamforth Djed Spence is doing well in his battle with Mo Salah at the moment. While Salah is still getting some space, Spence always seems to be there to halt him in his tracks. That will be a key battle throughout this game. By Harry Bamforth Oh my word, what a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold! the Liverpool full; -back sees a ball that nobody else in the ground can spot to clip through Mo Salah. Salah only needs to help it on its way six yards out but he is smothered by Fraser Forster. The ball then breaks to Dominik Szoboslzai but his effort is blocked. By Harry Bamforth You are certainly not going to see Fraser Forster change to kicking it long, no matter the mistakes he makes. Since his early error, he has played some nice clipped passes, even while under pressure. You've got to commend his bravery. By Harry Bamforth By Harry Bamforth Liverpool have started really well here. They are all over Tottenham like a rash and now Luis Diaz decides to have a pop. It's a decent effort but he drags it just wide of the post. The Tottenham fans have fallen silent, the nervous energy is apparent. By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth Fraser Forster, what are you doing? The Tottenham keeper has a stinker in midweek and it takes him just three minutes to make his first big mistake. He clips the ball straight to Mo Salah and immediately has to backpedal, but luckily for him Salah firs into the side-netting. There are huge groans from the home fans. By Harry Bamforth Tottenham have started a little shakily at the back. the makeshift defence are under pressure by the Liverpool forward from the gun and Cody Gakpo wins the ball high up the pitch. The ball is then played to Mo Salah but he can't get the ball out of his feet. By Harry Bamforth I am well up for this one, and so are the fans inside the stadium. The Tottenham fans have a lovely little sing-song before James Maddison gets this Christmas cracker underway. Who will come out on top? By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Harry Bamforth The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a cauldron of noise. The players enter the pitch with a huge roar from all four stands and it has got me pumped up. Sadly I have to listen to the Premier League anthem briefly, but all is made right as techno music is blasted out. If you know me by now, you'll know I love electronic tunes. By Harry Bamforth Oh, Luke, stop it. You have me blushing. The only problem is, only a few hours ago my colleague Luke slandered me for ability. .. he is just trying to be nice now. Anyway, you guys don't really care about how well I can play the sport I am reporting on, or maybe you do. The professional stars I am paid to cover are now just moments away from talking to the pitch as the atmosphere cracks up. there is currently a lovely light show going on. By Luke Power Big news here at Mail Sport HQ - Harry Bamforth is forcefully seizing control of this blog from me. I heard he used to be a fine right-back in the olden days. Almost as good as Trent Alexander-Arnold. Have a good game, everyone. By Luke Power Speaking to Sky Sports Ange Postecoglou: Arne Slot: By Luke Power While we're on the Carragher charge, let's hear his views on Virgil van Dijk. By Luke Power A plain-speaking analysis from a man who knows one or two things about playing for Liverpool on Sky Sports: Harsh words? By Luke Power It's easy to say for the manager whose playing style is ripped to pieces, but it's clear that Postecoglou stands behind his philosophy. Worth listening to his views in this clip where he defends his attacking style. This man isn't going to change. By Luke Power Well, we've got a lovely video of Liverpool arriving in the stadium and the one thing that stands out to me is the sheer quantity of gum being gnawed on. Does it provide a psychological advantage? Is it filled with nutrients? Perhaps there's a feature idea in this - how Arne Slot has Liverpool firing thanks to a gum revolution. Never understood the appeal, me. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium So here’s one for the stattos. Nine Premier League games so far this weekend and only one homewin (Aston Villa) recorded and four goals scored. The home and away team aggregate ahead of kick-off here at Spurs is 4-19. Remarkable, you may say. By Ian Ladyman At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium First thing to report here is that goings-on at Manchester United have reverberated around the press room at Tottenham. It may be 13 years since United won the Premier League but their continued struggles remain as fascinating as ever. As for this game, Liverpool have reverted to a more familiar line-up after their Carabao Cup win at Southampton in midweek and I am interested in the continued exclusion of central defender Jarell Quansah. He almost went to the Euros with England – he was in the original squad – and started the first game of Arne Slot’s tenure at Ipswich back in August. But he was hooked at half-time and has hardly been seen since. Joe Gomez gets the nod ahead of him again here in the absence of Ibrahima Konate. By Luke Power Dear oh dear. Spurs come in for a lot of mockery and they don't help themselves. Fans have been forced to see a bizarre marketing stunt surrounding the hit Netflix show 'Squid Game' at the stadium. Revenue, yes, you'd imagine. Points for coolness and aura? Absolutely none. Zilch. By Luke Power There's nothing like an abysmal statistic. Check this out. Tottenham have won just two of their last 25 games against Liverpool. Yes, you read that right. Two. They've lost 17 of those. it was, put simply, no fun playing against Jurgen Klopp for the north Londoners. The fact that Liverpool have lost only one of their 24 games in all competitions this campaign stacks the odds against Spurs even more. By Luke Power Oh, Trent. Are you in or are you out? Maybe somewhere in the middle. Alexander-Arnold joined the Men in Blazers podcast this week and talked of building a 'legacy'. You can read his comments either way, either as encouragement that he'll stay or the opposite. He was asked what his dreams looked like now. 'Of course, winning more trophies. But on a personal level it is building a legacy. That is something that is important, ' he said. Asked what he meant by that, he clarified: 'Just being spoken about in the highest regard, especially after you've finished [playing]. In 10 or 15 years, if I'm spoken about as one of the best right backs or the best right back then that's what I'm playing for now and using it as motivation. ' Liverpool fans hope that legacy is built on Anfield stone. By Luke Power Liverpool are imperious but don't write off Spurs. Need any encouragement for that? Just check the Man United score - it's 3-0 to Bournemouth. The Premier League constantly throws up surprises, though maybe United being hammered is not much of a shock these days. Ruben Amorim had not lost a league game all year at Sporting CP. Hasn't been so smooth at United. By Matt Barlow At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium That’s Spurs unchanged from the Carabao Cup QF and a huge show of faith in Djed Spence. This time last week he had not started a game for the club. Now he is about to start his third in eight days, ahead of Destiny Udogie and up against Mo Salah and the PL leaders. He has stepped up very well when needed by Ange Postecoglou, who obviously was not convinced he would be good enough. This is his biggest test. By Luke Power How about this, Spurs fans? An exclusive interview with Archie Gray. He's the man of the moment for Tottenham, slotting in ever so well at the back as they battle an injury crisis. leeds had a talent on their hands, Spurs snatched it, and now they are reaping the rewards from this versatile college-age starlet. By Luke Power Postecoglou must have liked what he saw against Manchester United because he has taken the bold step of naming the exact same team three days later to face a much-refreshed Liverpool side. Of course, his options are limited. Archie Gray starts again as a makeshift centre-back - not that you'd be able to tell that he doesn't usually play there from his performances so far. By Luke Power Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo Several changes from their Carabao Cup win over Southamtpon but just the one from last weekend, with Alexis Mac Allister in for Curtis Jones. By Luke Power Tottenham XI: Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son By Luke Power Mohamed Salah has the chance to set another Premier League record today, as he could become the first star in the competition's history to record double figures for goals and assists before Christmas Day. He's currently on 13 goals and nine assists, so just needs to set up a team-mate. Who knows, with his future up in the air, it could be his last chance to bag this record. By Aadam Patel At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium By Luke Power Few of those who were there will be forgetting this one in a hurry. Liverpool were reduced to nine men after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off - and then Joel matip turned the ball into his own net in the 96th minute to hand Spurs the win. There's no chance of that happening today with Matip now retired, but Spurs will take confidence that they took all three points. At Anfield, it finished 4-2 to Liverpool. By Luke Power Required reading, this. James Sharpe dives into the stats to analyse how Liverpool compare to their title-winning iteration in 2019-20, that Covid-ravaged season. It's easy to forget that Liverpool won 26 of their first 27 games that season, drawing the other. Their first defeat was 3-0 at the hands of. .. Watford. Somehow they don't hold a league record points total, but still, it was a phenomenal team. By Luke Power A rare admission emerged from the mouth of Arne Slot in midweek as he said that he would like to see Ange Postecoglou win a trophy - just not in any competition that Liverpool are in, though. Postecoglou has faced pressure recently, wirth his gung-ho attacking style drawing criticism. 'Just be happy that we have managers like him that want to play this brand of football and that is why even I hope he wins something, ' said Slot. All niceties but that won't buy Postecoglou any favours from his opposite number today. By Luke Power Hello and welcome to Mail Sport's live blog of today's Premier League clash between Tottenham and Liverpool. With Chelsea currently drawing at Everton, this could represent an opportunity to Arne Slot's men to extend their Premier League advantage. And how much they'll want that. The Reds have faltered slightly in recent weeks, drawing with Newcastle and Fulham. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group