23 December 2024

Premier League fans were given an early Christmas present on Sunday, as Tottenham and Liverpool played out a nine-goal thriller.

The Reds prevailed 6-3 in north London as Ange Postecoglou's side threw caution to the wind again against the free-flowing league leaders.

Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah each scored two goals, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis McAllister scored, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored for the hosts.

Only six times has a Premier League match had more goals since the competition's inception in 1992. Here's how those matches were played.

Portsmouth 7-4 Reading (2007-08)

The highest-scoring Premier League match of all time was the 11-goal thriller between Portsmouth and Reading in September 2007 which finished 7-4.

The classic of the Barclays era, which is probably also remembered for Chris Kamara's account of Saturday's events, saw Benjani score a hat-trick.

The likes of Herman Hrederson, Niko Kranjcar, Dave Keystone, Stephen Hunt, Shane Long and Sulley Muntari were also on the scoresheet to add to the nostalgia of this match.

Tottenham 6-4 Reading (2007-08)

Reading were on the wrong end of another goalscorer a few months later during a visit to Tottenham, who are also accustomed to featuring in goal-laden matches.

This season Postecoglou recalled much of the spirit of the 2007-08 Spurs team, and this match in December 2007 was one of many high-scoring games in which they were involved.

That goal at White Hart Lane saw Dimitar Berbatov score four goals, with Steed Malbranque and Jermain Defoe also on target.

Tottenham 9-1 Wigan (2009-10)

The second match in which Tottenham scored 10 goals in the space of a year was more than one-sided as they put Wigan Athletic to the sword.

Peter Crouch scored the only goal of the first half before Defoe took the lead with five goals, while Aaron Lennon, David Bentley and that man Kranjcar appeared again.

Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (2011-12)

Manchester United's 8-2 win over Arsenal remains one of the most famous and shocking results in Premier League history.

The duo are two of the most successful teams in the country and have been involved in some feuds in the past, but this encounter came when the Gunners were in a major decline under Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal looked powerless to stop United at Old Trafford as Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, including two free-kicks, and Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-sung also found the back of the net. Arsenal also finished the match with ten men after the red card received by Carl Jenkinson.

Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle (2012-13)

This was followed by another match that saw Arsenal score 10 goals, but this time they were on the right side thanks to Theo Walcott's brilliant goal in December 2012.

The former England winger scored a hat-trick and set up two more goals during an entertaining festive match in north London.

Newcastle equalized three times in an exciting 3-3 match before Arsenal withdrew, with Alex Oxlade-Chamerlain, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud the other scorers.

West Bromwich 5-5 Manchester United (2012-13)

Sir Alex's last 1,491 appearances for Manchester United were perhaps the most bizarre, with United drawing 5-5 with West Bromwich.

Having already wrapped up the title, the Red Devils – and certainly West Brom – decided to make a bid.

United led 3-0 before the Baggies made it 3-2 back through James Morrison and Romelu Lukaku, but Robin van Persie inspired the hosts to a 5-2 lead.

But just when it looked as if Sir Alex would celebrate another of his many victories, goals from Lukaku and Yousso Mulombo denied the Scot a triumphant send-off.

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