Liverpool couldn’t have dreamt of being in this position in the Premier League. On Christmas Day, the Reds will lead the standings by four points— with 12 more than Manchester City— and still have a game in hand.
Perhaps the most exciting thing for Arne Slot, though, is that he will still be able to find ways to improve. The three goals conceded against Tottenham, for one thing, was far from ideal. There is still more control that can be found, and there are individuals who can get better too.
Chiefly, Dominik Szoboszlai came to life in North London, especially in the first half against Spurs. Selected for his legs and intensity, he also managed to bring in the composure he needs to show more often in the final third, notching himself a goal and an assist.
He scored one and could have got a second. Szoboszlai was central to everything his side did going forward and tied everything together. The Hungarian now needs to show that side of his game more frequently, but he clearly has it in his locker.
Excelling most often in the biggest games, Szoboszlai is ideally suited to when things get stretched. Quite obviously, that was the game that was coming up here, and he reveled in it.
Another to excel was Luis Diaz, getting the revenge he deserved after the VAR error in the same fixture last season. Selected as the number nine even though Darwin Nunez is fit and available and Diogo Jota has now returned, Diaz netted two and, like Szoboszlai, expertly linked the play together as well.
It says something that Nunez, in particular, wasn’t picked, with Jota not 100 per cent sharp after his injury. But it arguably says more about Cody Gakpo.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Spurs.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Spurs. (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images2024 Liverpool FC)
To get Diaz and Gakpo in the team, one has to play out of position. The Dutchman, in good form in the final third having scored nine and assisted three this year, and is seemingly undroppable. That meant Diaz playing in the middle where he played a central role, allowing Gakpo to play where he is best.
At some stage, Jota is likely to work his way back into the reckoning for Liverpool. Starting the season in the first XI, he is the Reds’ most potent number nine when he is fit and firing and he looked sharp here.
Diaz and Gakpo couldn’t have done much more, however, and Salah is a certainty for almost every 90 minutes. Federico Chiesa didn’t even make the matchday squad with Slot having so many options to pit against one another.
With Szoboszlai putting in his best performance since he arrived from RB Leipzig in 2023, proving himself as a more than capable attacking weapon who can do it all, and Gakpo and Diaz firing, Salah suddenly has a lot less pressure on his shoulders. The Egyptian got two, but it was the attacking unit as a foursome that was ignited here.
Gakpo is undroppable but Diaz is too. And with Spurs to come twice in the next six weeks in the Carabao Cup, Liverpool should be licking its lips.