Liverpool took advantage of Chelsea’s misstep on Everton’s pitch to comfortably sit at the top of the Premier League thanks to a superb performance on Tottenham’s pitch (6-3). The Reds seem all powerful this season.
3 mins
The end-of-year holiday period and Boxing Day are crucial times in the Premier League season. The club which ends the season in first place in the English Championship has often performed well in this sequence of matches which does not spare the family meals and public holidays that the calendar offers. Liverpool are entering this period with plenty of confidence and points in the standings thanks to a great first part of the season and a crushing 6-3 victory this Sunday at Tottenham.
There were several classes of difference between the two teams, in all areas. Liverpool initially largely dominated the first period, with control of the game and a completely locked down midfield, allowing the offensive players to express themselves as best they could. Luis Diaz (23rd), Alexis Mac Allister (36th) and Dominik Szoboszlai (45th+1) allowed their team to return to the locker room at the break with a score of 3-1. After which, the Reds gave up control of the game to give the initiative to Spurs and punish them on the counterattack. A strategy that paid off, since Mohamed Salah quickly increased the score by a double.
The locals launched the rebellion and came back to 5-3 10 minutes from time, to the clamor of a stadium which began to believe in it again. But Luis Diaz came to punish London’s enthusiasm at the very end of the game and also scored his double.
Chelsea stopped in the middle of the series
For their part, earlier in the day, Chelsea missed the opportunity to increase their threat against Liverpool with a poor draw at Everton (0-0). Only six months after inflicting a heavy defeat (6-0) at Stamford Bridge on the same Everton team, the Londoners were expecting an easier Sunday, which could have allowed them to be leaders at least a few hours before the Reds’ trip to Tottenham’s pitch.
Instead, Enzo Maresca’s team remained one point behind the Reds, transformed into four units thanks to Liverpool’s victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. After eight consecutive victories in all competitions, Chelsea deserved nothing more in the rain and wind at Goodison Park. It was even Everton, 15th in the standings, who pushed the hardest to achieve victory in the second half. An intervention by Tosin Adarabioyo in front of Iliman Ndiaye (77th), facing the goal, at least made it possible to preserve the invincibility of the Blues which has lasted since a defeat at Liverpool 2-1 on October 20. On the other hand, the series of eight consecutive victories in all competitions ends this weekend.
The Reds therefore enjoy a small cushion at the top of the championship (39 points), and even a joker with one less game played than their main pursuers in the standings. Behind Chelsea, Arsenal (35 points) remains in ambush. Next meeting, Boxing day, December 26 and 27.