Liverpool may have won 2-1 at Tottenham on Saturday evening, but the media couldn’t help but feel unconvinced about their performance.
Arne Slot enjoyed another important victory as his two summer striker signings, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, got the goals in North London.
This was Liverpool’s third consecutive win, but the performance showed some of the Reds’ underlying problems are still present.
Here’s how the media reacted to Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool.
It was a big win for Liverpool but far from faultless
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 20, 2025: Liverpool's goalscorer Hugo Ekitike after the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On X, journalist David Lynch didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Reds, despite the result:
“Liverpool very poor all night and then truly dreadful after Tottenham went down to nine men, but that’s another win, six unbeaten, and somehow level on points with fourth place.
“For now at least, the ends are justifying the means.”
Ian Doyle of the Echo described it as a “strange” win for the Premier League champions:
“Strange one this evening. Nobody for LFC was particularly bad, but not many were particularly great over the full 90.
“But they were always the better side and just about kept their heads when Spurs totally lost theirs.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 20, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Athletic’s James Pearce also couldn’t help find negatives in Liverpool’s victory:
“Liverpool made painfully hard work of that. Cruising at 2-0 after goals from Isak/Ekitike following Simons’ red card. But then panic set in.
“They completely lost their heads after Richarlison pulled one back. Even after Romero’s dismissal they could have conceded.”
Sam Wallace of the Telegraph continued the negativity, with Liverpool’s performance near the end not befitting of champions:
“By the end, Arne Slot’s players were hanging on for a win against a dysfunctional nine-man Tottenham team with one of the worst home records in the club’s history – so not all of this win felt like a great triumph for the defending Premier League champions…
“Liverpool owed a lot to the very confident handling of Alisson in the closing stages. A less experienced goalkeeper might have lost his cool.”
But there was still plenty to admire about Liverpool
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 20, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk after the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gethin Hicks of the Mail was positive about the run of form Liverpool are putting together:
“That feels like an important win for Arne Slot, whose side are now up to fifth in the Premier League.
“It wasn’t straightforward, especially given they were playing against 10 men for much of the match, but they got the job done.
“Quietly, Liverpool are putting together something of an unbeaten run. That’s now six without loss.”
Squawka focused on a strong night for Florian Wirtz, who finally got his maiden Premier League assist:
Florian Wirtz for Liverpool against Tottenham:
? Most passes in final third (50)
? Most possessions won (7)
? Most touches in opp. box (7)
? Most take-ons completed (4)
?= Most chances created (2)
And his first Premier League assist. ?? https://t.co/Ypw6ujfNZE
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 20, 2025
Meanwhile, the *Mirror*‘s Felix Keith believed there were good signs without Mohamed Salah around:
“Peter Crouch was among the pundits to suggest that Salah’s absence would give Slot the chance to play Isak alongside Ekitike.
“He was right, but not in the way he might have expected, with the two of them only on the pitch together for less than 10 minutes. But there was still a glimpse of Liverpool’s future.
“Firstly, it was Wirtz who slid Isak in with a nicely-weighted through ball. The ex-Newcastle man did what he used to be known for, by confidently smashing his finish into the net.
“But the excitement around Ekitike will be even greater, with the way he bullied Romero to nod in no doubt bringing thousands of clenched fists around the globe from Reds fans.”