Tottenham Hotspur's dismal home form hit a new low as they slumped to a chaotic defeat against Liverpool, finishing the match with nine men after two red cards. The result marks a club-record 11th Premier League defeat at home in this calendar year, piling pressure on manager Thomas Frank, who was left incensed by several key officiating decisions.
Frank's Fury Over Dismissals and Disallowed Goal Claims
The match's major flashpoints involved the dismissals of Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons. Simons saw a straight red in the first half for a challenge from behind on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Frank contested the decision, stating: 'I've seen them given but I don't like this as a red card. It's not reckless and it's not exceptional force.' Simons later apologised on social media, insisting he would never intentionally hurt his international captain.
The controversy continued with Liverpool's second goal, scored by Hugo Ekitike. Frank and Spurs were adamant it should have been ruled out for a push on Romero. 'The second goal is a mistake from the ref,' Frank fumed. 'There are two hands in the back. Clear two hands in the back... But apparently not in the penalty box.' Romero then received his first yellow card for protesting the goal.
A Costly Victory for Liverpool's Top-Four Push
For the visitors, the three points came at a significant cost. Striker Alexander Isak was injured as he scored the opening goal, and defender Conor Bradley was also forced off. Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted Isak's immediate withdrawal was 'usually not a good thing', casting doubt on his immediate availability.
Despite the injuries, the victory was crucial for Liverpool's ambitions. The win extends their unbeaten run to six games and moves them up to fifth in the table, closing in on the Champions League places. Slot praised his team's development, acknowledging the need for patience after a summer of significant change.
Romero's Rash Reaction Seals Spurs' Fate
Tottenham's misery was compounded when Cristian Romero received a second yellow card in the closing minutes for retaliation. After a foul by Ibrahima Konate, Romero kicked out, leaving his team with just nine players. Frank offered a tempered view of the incident, suggesting Konate's initial challenge was a foul but acknowledging Romero's reaction could be punished.
The defeat leaves Tottenham with mounting problems, both in terms of results and discipline, while Liverpool's resilience sees them gathering momentum in the race for the top four.
