Liverpool

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton told the Monday Night Club that the Premier League title is not Liverpool's to lose, saying that the Reds "will have a blip" at some stage.

The Athletic's Rory Smith agreed, suggesting they should be favourites but it is too early in the season to make that claim.

Sutton reflected on the Reds' form and 6-3 weekend win at Tottenham, stating: "Because of the nature and the strength of the Premier League, they will have a blip. What was remarkable about them on Sunday is they looked really refreshed and dynamic and powerful – the scoreline flattered Tottenham in the end, it could've been double figures."

Listen to the full episode here on BBC Sounds

The Monday Night Club panel have been discussing Mohamed Salah's future.

At 32, is there a risk in giving the forward a lengthy contract at Liverpool?

The Athletic's Rory Smith thinks there may be years on Salah's side yet.

Watch Monday Night Club on iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says the team have ambitions but they are not looking too far ahead because they still face competition from a number of teams.

The Reds go into 2025 competing on four fronts and, most notably, top of the Premier League and Champions League tables.

"We want to be up there in May, but we have seen how difficult it is," Van Dijk told BBC Radio Merseyside. "We focus on what is next ahead of us and that's the only thing.

"I'm not getting dragged into talking about winning one, two, three or four trophies. It is all about each and every game ahead of us.

"We have only had one addition to the squad [since last season] and this group of players have been playing together for quite a long time. The experience and quality is there and I see it every day.

"There were question marks after Jurgen [Klopp] was replaced by Arne Slot but I had so much trust in my team.

"We are competing at the top of the Premier League so we have to stay consistent."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

G, the Evertonian asked: Hi Phil, Gary Neville said Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the bests crossers of a ball in Premier League history. Who would you rate as top? I think Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best with mentions to Beckham, Shearer, Baines and De Bruyne.

Phil answered: Afternoon, G: I think Alan Shearer was more of a beneficiary of crosses than a crosser himself but all the others are very worthy of mention. I'd go with Beckham and Alexander-Arnold with not much between them. In fact I'm thinking De Bruyne as well now!

You mention you are an Evertonian. I don't know if you are old enough to remember Dave Thomas in the late 70s team but he was as good as I have seen – left foot, right foot, on the run, standing start, set pieces. If you are not old enough, ask someone about him.

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Liverpool have a "level of smugness" about them which is "wonderful to watch", says former goalkeeper David James.

The Reds' impressive 6-3 win away to Tottenham on Sunday saw Arne Slot's side move four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.

It also continued the incredible record of the new Liverpool boss having only lost once since taking charge of the club in the summer.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, James said: "There is a side to this Liverpool team and Arne Slot and everyone, they don't seem to mind other teams playing well against them at some point during the game, i.e scoring goals and Tottenham scored three goals.

"If you had said to someone you are going to go to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and concede three goals, how do you feel? Well you would say 'we will probably score four, we might even score six'. It's a level of smugness, which I say in the fondest way, that no one else in the league has this year and it's wonderful to watch."

Ex-Tottenham defender Stephen Kelly also praised the Reds for their season so far and added: "I think it is a foot race between Liverpool and Liverpool. I don't think anyone catches them.

"They are just so decisive and so cutting in games in moments when they need to be. If they had some key injuries to key players then that could change things obviously with the run-in left but you just look at them and think 'this team are unstoppable at the moment'.

"I can't see anyone getting to the level to really pose a threat."

Listen back on BBC Sounds

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Dominik Szoboszlai has turned it around and Liverpool are purring.

Arne Slot's efficient Reds were still winning at the start of the season, but many were worried about our Hungarian number eight. Back in the later summer, he was probably the least in-form starting player.

He lacked creativity and his decision making was off. Luckily, he has always been a physical monster off the ball, so he pretty much kept his place in the side while rotating with Curtis Jones.

But in the past few weeks, Szoboszlai has really stepped up. Against Tottenham on Sunday was arguably his greatest performance for Liverpool.

Slot used him very high up, with Szoboszlai often playing further ahead than Luis Diaz, who was the striker. The attacking midfielder linked up with Mo Salah repeatedly, drove through the centre of the park and provided a killer instinct in the box.

Given he has got Jones and fit again Harvey Elliott breathing down his neck for chances, it was the perfect time for Szoboszlai to step up, especially given Liverpool have been heavily linked to playmaker Rayan Cherki for the January transfer window.

It could not be going any better for Liverpool. The players are on song, fit and capable of beating anybody.

The strength in depth is also underrated. What other side can beat Tottenham away from home, 6-3, with Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Elliott, Jones, Wataru Endo, Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah on the bench?

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given spoke to Match of the Day 2 about Mohamed Salah's importance to Liverpool:

"He's unbelievable and that graph [above] speaks volumes in itself. He's a special, talented player.

"The big news around him is if he is going to stay or go. I don't think they can afford to let him go.

Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray agreed with Given, adding: "I'm sure Liverpool fans will be desperate for him to stay. He is the first man to hit double [figures] for assists and goals in the Premier League era before Christmas."

Watch the full episode here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Rachael: Our shortcomings and naivety were ruthlessly exploited by a great Liverpool team. I don't think our best XI, had they been available, could have matched Liverpool. If you watched that game as a neutral, you would enjoy that - but not as a Spurs fan.

Steve: Shambles from the coach yet again. Yes, we are missing defenders but we conceded goals galore when they were fit. There is no structure or balance to team and that is down to the coach. Why play a high-line against the fastest front three in the league? Brave? Brainless is the answer. He is on borrowed time.

Andrew: Simply shocking. There are no excuses. Nothing learned, the same spineless performance. Sack manager and start again.

Martin: I don't believe we can keep persisting with this style of football. I want Spurs to play good, attractive football, but not with this suicidal approach to defending and pressing. We don't have the quality or depth of squad to do this. Ange Postecoglou, rethink please.

Mickey: We are further off the top teams than we have been for many years. Ange is great as a 'mate', but we need more than that.

Liverpool fans

Kojo: This was always going to be a high-scoring game, given Spurs' all-attacking, high-pressing game. They might have overpowered Manchester City and other clubs but, against a rampant Liverpool, Tottenham's high line was exposed with swift counter-attacks, defence splitters and balls behind the line. Spurs were lucky not to concede double digits here.

Dax: I don't like saying this, but I would have taken a 2-0 win over a 6-3 win. Yes, Tottenham were there for the taking but our defence should have been more solid. We have been horribly exposed in recent games, shipping three goals at Newcastle, two at Southampton and Fulham. Stronger teams would have hammered us. We are becoming complacent and too confident. Earlier in the season, our defence was almost impenetrable. Conceding 11 goals in five games isn't good enough.

Charlie: Fantastic again. I'm not happy conceding three goals, but they are human after all. We have just got to keep the momentum going. If we can win the game in hand, it bodes well for the title, but we can't afford a blip.

Derek: Great performance from the team. Gomez was outstanding at the back and Salah was just phenomenal up front. Six goals scored, but it could have been 10.

Alfie: Formidable side. They haven't even come out of first gear. It is incredible football to watch. One at a time, bring them all on and smash them all. At least two trophies this campaign, one of those the Premier League title. A brilliant team, well done Liverpool.

Image source, Mirror and i Sport

Arne Slot is making Premier League management "look way too easy", says former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

Liverpool are top of the Premier League and Champions League tables, with a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals also booked.

"No-one really had a clue what to expect from Slot because of everything that Jurgen Klopp achieved and the impact when he left," said Reo-Coker.

"So no-one thought they would be competing for the Premier League title - maybe a top-four finish, but not a title when there was so much uncertainty about what Slot would bring.

"What he has brought is a great level of professionalism and high level of consistency and performance from every single player. No matter what his starting line-up is, it is always the highest level in the Premier League and Champions League.

"Every player seems tuned in and dialled in, so you have to give full credit to Slot because only a very good manager can do that.

"They are a well-oiled machine."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

A Liverpool approach for Brighton and Brazil forward Joao Pedro is likely to have to wait until the summer as the Seagulls' demands for the 23-year-old will make a January move difficult. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-0 Chelsea

• Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth

• Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool

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Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been speaking to BBC Sport about the win: "We spoke about it in the dressing room. We are not happy with the fact we conceded three goals, that is very clear, but we scored six and that's not very easy.

"Tottenham are a good team. They press really high and they are aggressive. We knew we had to put the ball in behind and score the opportunities we had.

"We are happy with the result. There are many things to improve but we are happy to get the three points."

On the performance of team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai: "Dom is amazing. He can do everything and on and off the ball he is really good. He played a really good game, the same with the attackers. We are in a really good moment."

On conceding more goals recently: "At the back, we have to play simple and get the ball to them [the attackers]. We worked on this the whole week and we try to improve every single day.

"We know we have to concede less. We are not happy with conceding three today, but it is what it is. We play against really good teams. Maybe we have to defend better, but also we know we are dangerous when we attack."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool goalscorer Mohamed Salah has been speaking to Sky Sports about the win: "We were quite good up front, but defensively we need to improve as a team. Conceding three goals is quite hard.

"It is a good result, hopefully we just keep going."

On playing against this Spurs team: "We expected that [a chaotic game]. The way they play, they open the game, they enjoy their football, they are physically tough so mentally we always have to be in the game.

"They don't change much in the way they play, it is intense. Manchester City came here and struggled, other teams too.

"I'm happy we won because they play an intense game."

On becoming the first player ever to score 10 goals and provide 10 assists in the Premier League before Christmas: "I didn't think about it before the game, but I'm glad I have done it. It is something that makes me proud, I'll keep working hard."

On becoming Liverpool's fourth all-time leading goalscorer: "It is great to achieve that at such a big club but the most important thing is that we won the game. Wherever I am going to end my career, I am happy about it."

When asked if there is an update on his future, he replied: "No."

Image source, Getty Images

This will be the 21st time Liverpool have been top of the English top-flight on Christmas Day - the most of any side. The Reds have gone on to win the title in 11 of those previous 20 seasons (55%).

Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted 10 or more goals in the Premier League this season (15 goals, 11 assists). With just 16 games played, this is the joint-quickest a player has hit double figures for both goals and assists in a single campaign in the competition (also 16 by Harry Kane in 2020-21).