This was a dress rehearsal ahead of the League Cup semi-finals, but Liverpool were already assured of top spot at Christmas after Chelsea’s goalless draw at Everton earlier in the day
Rampant Liverpool hit Tottenham for six to ensure they hold a four-point advantage at the Premier League summit come Christmas.
The Reds produced a masterful attacking display in north London with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on target twice in a 6-3 victory.
It was a thoroughly-deserved success for Arne Slot’s men and made it 21 wins in 25 matches since the Dutch coach replaced Jurgen Klopp this summer in further evidence Liverpool are the best team in the country right now.
Spurs – who had eight players missing – could never reach the energy levels of a midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final triumph over Manchester United and were 5-1 down at one point before they rallied, but Ange Postecoglou’s side remain 11th after an eight league loss of the season.
This was a dress rehearsal ahead of the League Cup semi-finals, but Liverpool were already assured of top spot at Christmas after Chelsea’s goalless draw at Everton earlier in the day.
Spurs exerted a big physical effort on Thursday, which was not helped by two errors from Fraser Forster, who would have hoped for a serene start but chipped straight to Salah after three minutes only for the Liverpool forward to hit the side-netting.
It was a warning sign not heeded as the visitors continued to dictate and Forster had to save from Salah before Pape Sarr slid in to thwart Dominik Szoboszlai.
Slot’s men continued to probe as Cody Gakpo blazed an effort over and Djed Spence denied Salah with two blocks in quick succession.
Another twist and turn inside the area by Salah fashioned a chance, but he fired against the crossbar under pressure from Archie Gray.
It still felt only a matter of time before Liverpool scored and the breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was given too much space and his cross from deep picked out the unmarked Diaz to head home for his 10th goal of the season.
One quickly became two as Alexis Mac Allister nodded in after 36 minutes to put the away side in cruise control.
An Andrew Robertson cross caused problems this time and after Szoboszlai made a nuisance inside the Spurs penalty area, Mac Allister beat the onrushing Forster to make it 2-0.
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