Match reportLiverpool to spend Christmas four points clear at top after scoring six in win over Tottenham

Headers from Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister put the Reds two goals up after 36 minutes, before James Maddison pulled one back.

Dominik Szoboszlai added the visitors' third in first-half stoppage time and was then joined on the scoresheet by Mohamed Salah, who converted twice following the interval.

Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke netted what proved to be consolations as Diaz completed the scoring to see Arne Slot's side take advantage of second-placed Chelsea dropping points earlier in the day.

Team news

Slot opted to make seven changes to his line-up following the Carabao Cup win at Southampton.

One of those introduced was Andy Robertson, who returned from a one-match suspension.

Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Diaz (Nunez, 87), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Jones, 68), Salah (Elliott, 87), Gakpo (Jota, 68), Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold.

Unused subs: Kelleher, Endo, Tsimikas, Quansah, Nyoni.

First half

Liverpool could not make the most of two golden opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes – but it was an encouraging sign of what they would go on to create in the remainder of the period.

Salah cut out an attempted clip from Fraser Forster but struck the side-netting with a reactive strike. He then forced the goalkeeper into a good stop from close range following a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass, with Szoboszlai's effort on the rebound blocked by the sliding Pape Sarr.

And the crossbar now came to Spurs' rescue in the 17th minute. The ball was shifted on to Salah by Diaz in the final third and the Egyptian twisted past Archie Gray before striking the woodwork.

But the hosts' fortune ran out halfway through the opening period as the visitors deservedly went ahead.

Alexander-Arnold's beautiful, curling delivery from out wide was emphatically nodded past the diving Forster by Diaz.

The Colombian nearly had another a few moments later but saw a hit from distance pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Liverpool's dominance was accurately reflected when Mac Allister reacted quickest to a Szoboszlai header that had been half-blocked, the Argentinian beating Forster to the punch inside the six-yard box.

That goal sparked an action-packed conclusion to the first half as Spurs received a much-needed lifeline.

The deficit was briefly brought back to one again through Maddison pinching possession off Mac Allister near the Reds' penalty area and side-footing into the bottom right corner.

However, five minutes later, the two-goal lead was restored courtesy of a sweeping move from back to front.

Szoboszlai flicked on an Alexander-Arnold ball forward into the path of Salah, who drove at the Tottenham back line before laying off to allow the charging No.8 to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the attack.

Second half

With Ange Postecoglou's team searching for a route back in, space was on offer for Liverpool to exploit – which they did.

Robertson successfully tackling Kulusevski allowed the Reds to break and make it 4-1, with Salah eventually nudging home from yards out after two desperate blocks from Gray.

His next goal was just as simple. Szoboszlai took Cody Gakpo's pass upfield in stride and went through before selflessly squaring for his teammate to get his second of the afternoon.

A full-stretch save from Forster stopped Alexander-Arnold adding the sixth from long range.

Spurs were still battling and reduced the damage somewhat with a Kulusevski volley that was followed by Solanke's finish inside the area.

But any dangers of a dramatic comeback were extinguished five minutes before the end of the 90, Diaz rolling the ball past Forster and Salah claiming another assist.