Arne Slot warned his players against complacency after Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 6-3 win at Tottenham.
The Reds put in one of their best attacking displays of the season away from home in North London, with Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah all on target.
But after racing into a 5-1 lead, a drop in intensity led to brief hope of a Spurs comeback as they clawed the game back to 5-3, before Diaz’s second sealed the victory.
The win saw the Reds capitalise on Chelsea’s dropped points as they drew 0-0 with Everton but Slot insists his side must keep their foot on the accelerator if they are to maintain their title charge.
“Until 60 to 65 minutes, I really, really, really enjoyed what I saw,” the Dutch coach said.
“But then you also saw that no matter how much quality players have, if they think they don’t have to run any more in this league, especially against Tottenham, they immediately start to create and they scored two goals. I was happy when the sixth one went in.
“Maybe it is human when you are 5-1 up. You think: ‘OK’. But Tottenham always keep on going and they have the ability to create.
“You have to be on top of your game every second of the game and if you’re not 100% then it hurts you.”
Slot: ‘Hard to stay top’
Liverpool will be top of the table at Christmas thanks to their slick display against a feeble Spurs side. Slot said: “It means something.
“You know as well as I know how hard it is to stay at the top. You have to be on top of your game for every minute. It is not easy to show up every three or four days.
“I didn’t expect Chelsea to drop points today. It can happen in any game and that’s what makes the league so special.”
Slot: ‘Top player Salah never stops working’
Salah became the fourt-highest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history with his brace and Slot spoke of his admiration for the Eyptian forward’s determination.
“Apart from him being a good footballer, he is very likable as a person,” Slot said. “He is always there to help his teammates, always down to earth.
“He understands what it takes to be at this level every three days. That’s what impresses me; that as a top player, he understands how hard he has to work for the quality he shows.”
