6 hours ago
4
Sometimes a game simply refuses to yield easy conclusions. Liverpool continued their gathering of momentum, a second straight win secured by goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké, but whether they would have done so had proceedings not been skewed in the 33rd minute feels decidedly uncertain. That was when Xavi Simons received a very modern red card via a pitchside review for a clumsy challenge on Virgil van Dijk and ensured neither side could present an authentic impression of itself.
The fact this did not resemble Liverpool’s 6-3 rampage of 12 months ago may, for good or ill, speak volumes for how both teams have developed. Arne Slot would have been delighted to see the interval substitute Isak open the scoring, only to see his glamour signing sustain a nasty-looking injury in the process. Ekitiké seemed to have put matters beyond doubt but Richarlison’s late drive, a note of pride for Spurs, was a reminder of the champions’ lingering frailties. Another sending-off, this time for Cristian Romero in added time, ramped up the dysfunction.
The frustration that Spurs rarely fulfil their dynamic potential reared up 17 minutes in, a collective groan rumbling when Mohamed Kudus slowed a promising counterattack. By then they had, at least, mounted some coherent threat. Thomas Frank had drafted Lucas Bergvall in for Richarlison and there were seeds of promise in a mutually circumspect start.
Hope flickered for Randal Kolo Muani only for Conor Bradley to throw himself at his snap shot. Then Pedro Porro overlapped for the striker to miscue and there was no doubting Spurs’ diligence even if the execution was not to everyone’s taste.
Shortly before the half-hour Kolo Muani had his best glimpse, standing unmarked as Djed Spence nodded a hooked Porro delivery across goal. In fairness Kolo Muani had little opportunity to generate power but could have done better than direct his header into Alisson’s arms.
It was more than Liverpool had managed. All they had offered was a Van Dijk header, similarly flicked down Guglielmo Vicario’s throat, from one of several disputed Dominik Szoboszlai free-kicks. The Tottenham crowd already appeared primed for injustice. They cheered when, on their left touchline, Simons slid in to snap the ball out of play. As it happened, the same player’s overenthusiasm would soon cost him.
Simons had been haring forward to press Van Dijk inside the Liverpool half, failing to check his run and catching the defender well after the ball had gone. The referee, John Brooks, showed a yellow card but Simons was in grave trouble once the video assistant referee’s review was announced. After failing to apply the brakes Simons had raked his studs down Van Dijk’s left calf, perhaps while off balance, despite having no hope of gaining possession.
Key facts
Show• Tottenham have lost 11 home league games in 2025, their most ever in a single calendar year across club history.
• Alexander Isak became just the second player to be subbed on, score and then be subbed off for Liverpool in a Premier League game after Yossi Benayoun vs Manchester City in November 2009. Opta
In slow motion the challenge looked dangerous; in real time the impression was weaker and it felt the kind of dismissal that rarely occurred before micromanagement through technology became integral to football. The one element beyond dispute was that Simons had been rash rather than malicious. Frank and his public seethed. Liverpool showed little sign of capitalising before half-time, Spurs creating the best chance when Porro drilled a cross that zipped through Spence’s legs.
It was little surprise to see Isak replace Bradley for the second half. Liverpool had never exceeded room temperature. Kudus was again berated for turning backwards on halfway but only had a blind alley ahead; now the game could no longer be played on equal terms, Tottenham had no option but to choose caution.
At least not until Isak announced his presence. He had recently been floored by a follow-through from Rodrigo Bentancur but was back on his toes when Romero aimed a needlessly ambitious pass down the middle. It was blocked by Alexis Mac Allister and, for virtually the first time, Liverpool had space to exploit. Via Szobosalai and a cute pass from Florian Wirtz, Isak was played into the zone where he is lethal and finished smartly with his left foot.
In doing so he took a crunch from a desperate Micky van de Ven and, after extensive treatment, was helped off. He had not been on the pitch 15 minutes and had scored with his fourth touch.
Kolo Muani almost conjured a quick equaliser after an exhibition of strength and speed sent him away. His effort snicked off Milos Kerkez and looped down, striking the bar and rebounding away. It was the first of two deflections that decided the game’s course.
The second came when Jeremie Frimpong, replacing Isak for his first appearance in two months, twisted Spence inside out before producing a cross that clipped the left-back on its way. Ekitiké, hanging in the air, was ready to meet it with a precise, drifting header. The outcome was sealed despite the replacement Richarlison scoring to ensure a frenetic final spell, Romero’s kick-out at Ibrahima Konaté sending him down the tunnel early.
