Mohamed Salah compared Liverpool’s win at Tottenham to Manchester City’s loss to Spurs after scoring twice on Sunday to set a new Premier League record.
The Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table with a 6-3 win that included two goals and two assists from Salah, who became the first player in Premier League history to score 10 goals and 10 assists by Christmas.
The result was the most recent highly entertaining game involving eleventh-placed Tottenham, where coach Ange Postecoglou’s risky attacking football helped secure a 4-0 win at City on November 23.
What it says about Christmas 🎄🎅 pic.twitter.com/y6EGUgs8tv
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024
Salah: Spurs ‘have the way they play’
“We expected the way they play: they are open to the game and enjoy football,” Salah told Sky Sports after scoring his 26th direct goal this season – nine goals more than his nearest rival Cole Palmer from Chelsea FC.
“You always have to be in the game; It’s really hard, physically and mentally. They have their way of playing and don’t change it much.
“City (competed against them) and struggled and some other teams had it too. I’m really happy we won because they play a very intense game.”
“If you are Chelsea or Arsenal you think these things will take a while” 👀
Jamie Carragher reacts to Liverpool’s big win over Tottenham 🔴 pic.twitter.com/OaRy7IrrtN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024
Liverpool needs to improve defensively
Salah was less impressed with Liverpool’s defense after they conceded more than one goal in the third of their last five games.
They have now conceded 16 goals in 16 league games and are tied with third-placed Arsenal for the fewest goals conceded, despite the Gunners having played a game more.
“Defensively we have to improve as a team,” warned Salah. “It’s pretty difficult to concede three goals. (Defender) Virgil (van Dijk) will talk about it better than me. The result is quite good and hopefully we will continue.”
What sets Liverpool apart from other title contenders? 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/gUGkfFZmyi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024
Mo Salah stats: 229 Liverpool goals
Salah’s second goal, which came within eight minutes of the second half, made the Egyptian icon Liverpool’s fourth-highest goalscorer of all time, ahead of Billy Liddell.
He is likely to score the 13 goals needed to overtake third-placed Gordon Hodgson this season, but his prospects of getting the 57 goals needed to surpass Roger Hunt’s total hang depends on whether he extends his contract before it expires at the end of the season.
Ian Rush is 117 goals ahead of Salah, so the 32-year-old may need to stay at Anfield for another five years to equal the Welsh legend’s record of 346 if he matches his average of 25 last season and stays fit represents a first -choice player.
