Liverpool FC

Headers from Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister put the Reds two goals up after 36 minutes, before James Maddison pulled one back.

Dominik Szoboszlai added the visitors' third in first-half stoppage time and was then joined on the scoresheet by Mohamed Salah, who converted twice following the interval.

Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke netted what proved to be consolations as Diaz completed the scoring to see Arne Slot's side take advantage of second-placed Chelsea dropping points earlier in the day.

Team news

Slot opted to make seven changes to his line-up following the Carabao Cup win at Southampton.

One of those introduced was Andy Robertson, who returned from a one-match suspension.

Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Diaz (Nunez, 87), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Jones, 68), Salah (Elliott, 87), Gakpo (Jota, 68), Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold.

Unused subs: Kelleher, Endo, Tsimikas, Quansah, Nyoni.

First half

Liverpool could not make the most of two golden opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes – but it was an encouraging sign of what they would go on to create in the remainder of the period.

Salah cut out an attempted clip from Fraser Forster but struck the side-netting with a reactive strike. He then forced the goalkeeper into a good stop from close range following a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass, with Szoboszlai's effort on the rebound blocked by the sliding Pape Sarr.

And the crossbar now came to Spurs' rescue in the 17th minute. The ball was shifted on to Salah by Diaz in the final third and the Egyptian twisted past Archie Gray before striking the woodwork.

But the hosts' fortune ran out halfway through the opening period as the visitors deservedly went ahead.

Alexander-Arnold's beautiful, curling delivery from out wide was emphatically nodded past the diving Forster by Diaz.

The Colombian nearly had another a few moments later but saw a hit from distance pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Liverpool's dominance was accurately reflected when Mac Allister reacted quickest to a Szoboszlai header that had been half-blocked, the Argentinian beating Forster to the punch inside the six-yard box.

That goal sparked an action-packed conclusion to the first half as Spurs received a much-needed lifeline.

The deficit was briefly brought back to one again through Maddison pinching possession off Mac Allister near the Reds' penalty area and side-footing into the bottom right corner.

However, five minutes later, the two-goal lead was restored courtesy of a sweeping move from back to front.

Szoboszlai flicked on an Alexander-Arnold ball forward into the path of Salah, who drove at the Tottenham back line before laying off to allow the charging No.8 to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the attack.

Second half

With Ange Postecoglou's team searching for a route back in, space was on offer for Liverpool to exploit – which they did.

Robertson successfully tackling Kulusevski allowed the Reds to break and make it 4-1, with Salah eventually nudging home from yards out after two desperate blocks from Gray.

His next goal was just as simple. Szoboszlai took Cody Gakpo's pass upfield in stride and went through before selflessly squaring for his teammate to get his second of the afternoon.

The Reds’ No.11 became the first player in the division ever to reach double figures for both goals scored and assists prior to December 25 – a new record in the competition to date.

Salah’s assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike in first-half stoppage time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw him bring up the landmark achievement.

That set-up was followed by two goals of his own and another assist, for Luis Diaz, to take his respective tallies to 15 goals and 11 assists this term in the top flight.

The Reds’ No.11 became the first player in the division ever to reach double figures for both goals scored and assists prior to December 25 – a new record in the competition to date.

Salah’s assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike in first-half stoppage time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw him bring up the landmark achievement.

That set-up was followed by two goals of his own and another assist, for Luis Diaz, to take his respective tallies to 15 goals and 11 assists this term in the top flight.

The full-back is one of seven changes made by the Reds in north London from the midweek Carabao Cup win at Southampton.

Elsewhere, Alisson Becker returns in goal, while Virgil van Dijk comes back into defence.

There are also berths for Luis Diaz, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold.

The Reds travel to the capital on Sunday afternoon to take on Spurs in the top flight.

In the same fixture in May 2008, the visitors under Rafael Benitez claimed a 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

Can you recall the line-up from that day? See how many you can name below...

Recent form

Spurs head in to the contest having earned a 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night.

In the Premier League, they sat 10th ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, having picked up 23 points from 16 games so far this season.

Last time out in the top flight, they claimed a 5-0 win against Southampton at St Mary’s, having netted all goals in the opening half of the contest.

Injury news: Updates on Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate from Arne Slot

Ones to watch

In the Premier League, Heung-min Son and James Maddison have been key figures for Tottenham.

Maddison has netted seven goals and provided four assists this term, while Son has totalled five goals and six assists.

Brennan Johnson (six goals) and Dominic Solanke (five goals) have also been in good form in front of goal, while Dejan Kulusevski has scored four times too.

Team news

Destiny Udogie (quad) is expected to return for Tottenham, while Timo Werner (illness) is hoping to be available.

Ange Postecoglou will be without eight others for the Reds’ visit, though.

Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison remain sidelined, and Rodrigo Bentancur continues to serve a suspension.

What was said

Tottenham head coach Postecoglou

“We’ll play our football because that’s what is winning us games. That’s what we’ll do against Liverpool. [They’re a] fantastic side, going really well.

“Arne [Slot] has come in and it’s not easy when you’re taking over from somebody with the status of Jürgen Klopp. They’re very settled and as a team they’ve got quality within the starting XI and squad.

“They’ve dealt with things; you saw last week they were a man down and they still had that overall belief. They’re the standout team in the competition so far, but again on our day when we play our football, we’re pretty good opposition.”

Previous meeting

In the last fixture between the two teams, Liverpool overcame Tottenham 4-2 at Anfield in the Premier League in May.

Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott were all on target for the Reds that afternoon.

Pre-match stats

Liverpool have lost just two of their last 23 Premier League games against Tottenham (won 15, drawn six) and have scored at least once in each of their last 17.

This fixture has seen more 90th-minute winning goals than any other in Premier League history so far (six).

With nine, Spurs have scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games this season than any other team in the division. They have also conceded the fewest number in that time, just one.

Tottenham have lost three of their eight home league matches so far this campaign – to Arsenal (0-1), Ipswich Town (1-2) and Chelsea (3-4).

Son has netted in each of his last five outings against Liverpool.

Arne Slot's men make the trip to the capital for their final fixture before Christmas, and Salah is eyeing a top-flight record in the contest.

The forward has so far netted 13 goals and recorded nine assists in the league this season and could become the first player in the competition's history to reach double figures in both categories prior to December 25.

He has also has been involved in 22 of the Reds' 31 Premier League goals this term (71 per cent), by far the highest share of any player for a side.

Read on for more statistics to know ahead of the match…

Liverpool have lost just two of their last 23 Premier League games against Tottenham (won 15, drawn six) and have scored at least once in each of their last 17.

This fixture has seen more 90th-minute winning goals than any other in Premier League history so far (six).

Victory for the Reds would see them sit top of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time since 2020-21.

After only failing to win two of their first 13 Premier League games under Slot (won 11, drawn one and lost one), Liverpool have since drawn both of their last two in the league. They last drew three on the bounce in a single season back in October 2015, which included a goalless draw at Spurs in Jürgen Klopp's first game in charge of the Reds.

Liverpool are unbeaten in nine Premier League away games since a 2-0 loss at Everton in April (won five, drawn four). The Reds are unbeaten in all seven games on the road this term – last beginning a league campaign with a longer away unbeaten run in 2019-20 (13).

The Reds are unbeaten in their last five visits to London in the Premier League since a 3-1 loss at Arsenal in February. They last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run in the capital between September 2020 and September 2021 (seven).

Salah has 11 goal involvements in his last 14 Premier League appearances against Spurs (nine goals, two assists).

Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a hand in four goals across his last six Premier League starts against Tottenham (one goal, three assists).

Six of Cody Gakpo's first eight Premier League goals came away from home. However, seven of his last nine have come at Anfield.

Slot has won 20 of his 24 games in charge of Liverpool in all competitions (with three draws and one defeat). It is the joint-fastest any manager has reached 20 wins in charge of an English top-flight club, alongside William Sudell with Preston North End in 1888-89.

If Liverpool avoid defeat, it will only be the third time in their history that they have reached Christmas Day in a season without having been beaten in a match away from home. In 1893-94 their first away loss came in the FA Cup in February of that season, while in 1987-88 they reached March before their first loss on the road.

The duo have been absent since last month's victory over Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League and will again be missing from Arne Slot's squad in the capital on Sunday as they continue their respective recoveries.

During his pre-match press conference, the head coach said: "These are the two that are still 'in the red', so they don't train with us at the moment. They are on their way back but they don't train with the team yet."

Slot added: "The main thing is that if they come back, they are ready to come back and we must not focus on one, two or three days. It's more important for the long term that they stay fit afterwards.

"Until now they [the medical staff] have done really well and hopefully with Conor and Ibou the same thing happens."

Andy Robertson is available for selection once more after serving a one-match suspension for the Carabao Cup tie at Southampton in midweek.

Harvey Elliott made his first start of the campaign at St Mary's, while Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas returned as substitutes after recent injury absences.

Ahead of the trip to Spurs, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez are both one yellow card away from incurring a domestic ban.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are waiting on the availability of Timo Werner following an illness that meant the forward missed Thursday's Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.

Destiny Udogie is expected to return to the matchday squad having also been absent for that contest, in which Spurs prevailed 4-3.

Ange Postecoglou said on Friday: "Timo was unwell yesterday, so we've got 48 hours before the game, hopefully he'll recover, and the plan is that Destiny should be OK."

Spurs are set to be without eight players for certain, with Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison remaining sidelined for the hosts.

Rodrigo Bentancur also continues to serve a suspension and will miss the fixture in north London.

On facing Liverpool, Postecoglou added: "We'll play our football because that's what is winning us games. That's what we'll do against Liverpool. [They're a] fantastic side, going really well.

"Arne has come in and it's not easy when you're taking over from somebody with the status of Jürgen Klopp. They're very settled and as a team they've got quality within the starting XI and squad.

"They've dealt with things; you saw last week they were a man down and they still had that overall belief. They're the standout team in the competition so far, but again on our day when we play our football, we're pretty good opposition."

Last match

Tottenham 4-3 Man Utd (December 19): Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool (December 18): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Endo, Gomez, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Morton, Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo.

After reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in midweek, the Reds turn their focus back to league matters with a trip to the capital on the horizon.

Arne Slot's squad were in training on Friday as they build towards the clash against Spurs – take a look in the images from the AXA Training Centre below.

Shop Liverpool's 2024-25 training kit range at our online store

Photos by Nikki Dyer and Andrew Powell

After winning away at Southampton in the last eight, the Reds were paired with Spurs during Thursday night's draw.

The first leg will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the week commencing January 6 and the return clash at Anfield in the week commencing February 3.

Confirmed fixture details will be announced on Liverpoolfc.com soon.

Arsenal and Newcastle United meet in the other semi-final.