Salah shines as Liverpool outgun Spurs in nine-goal thriller

Mohamed Salah delivered a sensational performance as Liverpool overcame Tottenham 6-3 in a pulsating Premier League clash in north London on 22 december.

The Egyptian star contributed two goals and two assists, propelling his side to a four-point lead at the top of the table heading into Christmas.

Luis Díaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Salah were on target for Liverpool, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke found the net for Spurs in a match marked by relentless attacking football and defensive lapses.

Salah wasted no time asserting himself, attempting five shots within the opening 18 minutes, including one that rattled the crossbar. Liverpool's breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Díaz headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold's perfectly delivered cross. It marked the Colombian's sixth league goal of the season and his first since september.

Mac Allister doubled the lead in the 36th minute with a well-timed header, scoring his first Premier League goal of the campaign. However, Tottenham responded swiftly, with Maddison capitalising on a mistake by Mac Allister to halve the deficit just before the break. Maddison's goal was his 100th Premier League goal involvement (55 goals and 45 assists) in 208 appearances.

Liverpool regained control in first-half stoppage time when Szoboszlai latched onto Salah's through ball and slotted coolly past Fraser Forster. With that assist, Salah became the first player in Premier League history to reach double figures for both goals and assists before Christmas.

Salah extended Liverpool's lead early in the second half, netting twice in quick succession to make it 5-1 by the 61st minute. His tally of 15 league goals now places him as the frontrunner for the Golden Boot, while his 11 assists keep him ahead of Bukayo Saka in the playmaker rankings.

Tottenham, true to their reputation under Ange Postecoglou, refused to go down without a fight. Kulusevski and Solanke added late goals to bring Spurs within two, but Díaz sealed the game with his second strike of the match, converting another Salah assist in the closing moments.

Despite the heavy defeat, Tottenham showed glimpses of resilience. This marked the first time Spurs had lost by more than a single goal all season, but defensive frailties remain a significant concern. They head into Christmas 11th in the table, far from the top-four ambitions they harboured earlier in the campaign.

Liverpool, meanwhile, sit atop the Premier League standings on Christmas Day, a position they will look to consolidate as the title race intensifies in the new year.