Tottenham lose 1–2 at home to Liverpool, as Reds climb to fifth

Nine-man Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2–1 defeat to Liverpool despite a spirited second-half response.

Alexander Isak opened the scoring for Liverpool but was forced off after injuring himself in the process, before Hugo Ekitike doubled the visitors’ lead with a looping header.

In a match reported by the New York Times, Richarlison pulled one back from close range to give Spurs hope, but that momentum was halted when Cristian Romero was sent off for kicking out at Ibrahima Konaté. Earlier, Xavi Simons had also seen red for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Virgil van Dijk, leaving Tottenham with nine men.

The victory lifted Liverpool to fifth place in the Premier League standings, while Thomas Frank’s struggling side remained 13th.

Tottenham Head Coach, Thomas Frank, criticised the officials, insisting Hugo Ekitike’s goal should have been disallowed for a foul on Cristian Romero.

Ekitike rose to meet Jeremie Frimpong’s cross from the right, placing both hands on Romero’s back before heading home. The defender fell to the ground, but VAR ruled the incident as “normal contact for an aerial challenge”.

Speaking after the match, Frank said:

“The second goal is a mistake from the referee. There are two hands in the back — clear two hands in the back. I don’t understand how that can be allowed.

“You see that situation a thousand times on the pitch and it’s always a foul. That was the biggest mistake in my opinion, including from VAR, but apparently it was not enough. We kept going.”

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