Mohamed Salah compared Liverpool’s win at Tottenham to Manchester City’s defeat at Spurs after scoring twice and setting a new Premier League record on Sunday.
The Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table by winning 6-3 thanks to two goals and two assists from Salah, who is the first player in Premier League history to reach 10 goals and 10 assists at Christmas.
The result was a richly entertaining final match involving 11th-placed Tottenham, with manager Ange Postecoglou’s risky, attacking football producing a 4–0 victory at City on November 23.
As is the case for Christmas 🎄🎅 pic.twitter.com/y6EGUgs8tv
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024
Salah: Spurs ‘have their own way of playing’
“We expected the way they played: they open the game and love football,” Salah told Sky Sports, speaking after his 26th direct goal of the season – nine ahead of nearest rival Cole Palmer, from Chelsea.
“You always have to be in the game; It’s really hard, physically and mentally. They have their own way of playing and they don’t change it much.
“City [faced them] and I struggled, as did other teams. I’m really happy that we won because they are playing a very intense match.
“If you’re Chelsea or Arsenal you look at this thinking, it’s going to take a while for this to stop” 👀
Jamie Carragher reacts to Liverpool’s big win against Tottenham 🔴 pic.twitter.com/OaRy7IrrtN
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024
Liverpool ‘must improve defensively’
Salah was less impressed with Liverpool’s defense after conceding more than one goal in the third game of their last five games.
They have now scored 16 goals in 16 league matches and are tied with third-placed Arsenal for the fewest goals against, although the Gunners have played a game more.
“Defensively, we need to improve as a team,” warned Salah. “Conceding three goals is quite difficult. [Defender] Virgil [van Dijk] will talk about it better than me. The result is pretty good and I hope we 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 goals at Liverpool
The second of Salah’s goals, scored in the space of eight minutes in the second half, puts the Egyptian icon ahead of Billy Liddell as Liverpool’s fourth highest goalscorer of all time.
He looks likely to score the 13 goals needed to overtake third-placed Gordon Hodgson this season, but his chances of plundering the 57 goals needed to overtake Roger Hunt’s tally will depend on whether he extends his contract before it expires at the end of the countryside.
Ian Rush is 117 goals ahead of Salah, so the 32-year-old may have to stay at Anfield for another five years to break the Welsh legend’s record of 346, if he averages his tally of 25 the last season and remains in good shape and a first. -player of choice.
