Alexander-Arnold message becomes obvious

It’ll take a bit more than the application of some imaginary boot polish to persuade Trent Alexander-Arnold to sign a new contract at Liverpool. But as long as he remains a Red, it would be wise to make the most of the right-back.

And on this performance, Alexander-Arnold can help prove the difference in a Premier League title challenge.

Having quite rightly been criticised for an under-par showing against Fulham last weekend, the 26-year-old has responded with an assist as captain in the League Cup win at Southampton in midweek before laying on the opener here at Tottenham Hotspur, his whipped cross from deep headed powerfully home by Diaz.

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Cue Diaz mimicking a quick clean of the footwear for his team-mate. There was no chance VAR would blunder their way out of allowing a goal for the Colombian on this occasion.

Somewhat less intentionally, Alexander-Arnold initiated Liverpool’s third with a hurried clearance in first-half injury time.

On the other flank, a cross from Andy Robertson, back available after being sent off against Fulham, prompted the uncertainty in the home defence from which Alexis Mac Allister nodded in the second, while the left-back’s crunching challenge on Dejan Kulusevski was the spark for the fourth.

After growing negativity in recent weeks, this was a day to remember the value of Liverpool’s full-backs.

Salah leaving Liverpool no option

Another game, another glut of landmarks for Mohamed Salah. And another indication of why Liverpool simply cannot afford to let the Egyptian walk away at the end of the season.

The clock may be ticking down on Salah’s contract negotiations – he, like Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, will be able to talk to clubs from abroad in less than a fortnight – there continues to be no suggestion it is affecting the player’s form.

Indeed, Salah is very much keeping up his side of the bargain in ensuring the agreement over a new deal he so clearly craves is finally reached.

His pass to set up Dominik Szoboszlai for Liverpool’s third made him the first player in Premier League history to reach double figures in terms of both goals and assists before Christmas.

Salah wasn’t finished there, though. He moved level with Billy Liddell in the Reds’ all-time goalscoring list shortly after half-time and seven minutes later went into fourth place all on his own with a 229th goal on his 373rd Liverpool appearance. The forward still had time to tee up Luis Diaz to complete a frankly bonkers afternoon.

Salah now has 18 goals and 15 assists in 24 Reds outings this season and is clear as the Premier League’s leading scorer. And now only Ian Rush, Roger Hunt and Gordon Hodgson stand ahead of him in the pantheon of Liverpool goalscoring greats. What a footballer.

Title omens emerging

Four down, one to go. Even with the Goodison derby having been blown away by Storm Darragh, a period of five away trips in seven games – which concludes next Sunday at West Ham United – was always going to be a major test of Liverpool’s impressive record on the road this season.

And that only an avoidable late leveller for Newcastle United has prevented a 100% record this far highlights how Slot’s side are showing their ability to cope no matter what the environment.

Liverpool are the only team in England’s top five divisions to remain unbeaten on the road in the league this season, with this just the third time in their history they have reached Christmas Day in a campaign without losing away from home in any competition.

The most recent was in 1987/88, when the Reds got through to March before a loss at Everton. Liverpool romped to the championship that season – and they continue to give themselves every chance of a replicating that feat.