Liverpool hang on for chaotic win against nine-man Spurs

Both Xavi Simons and Christian Romero were shown red cards by referee John Brooks

Alexander Isak opened the scoring for Liverpool against Spurs but left the field injured shortly after. Pic: AP Photo/Ian Walton

Premier League Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Richarlison 83) Liverpool 2 (Isak 57, Ekitike 66) 

TOTTENHAM supporters were booing at the final whistle again, but this time their anger was directed not at their team but at referee John Brooks, who sent off two Spurs players and booked another four in a highly controversial victory for Liverpool.

After Xavi Simons was dismissed for a foul on Virgil Van Dijk in the 30th minute, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike put the Reds two goals up in a nine-minute spell early in the second-half before Richarlison gave Spurs hope with a late goal. The drama did not stop there, as Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card, the first having come when he complained – with some justification – that he had been barged off the ball when Ekitike headed in what proved to be the winning goal in the 66th minute.

And even when down to nine men, Spurs kept pushing for an equaliser and Liverpool had to rely on a string of fine saves by Alisson Becker to ensure they left north London with three points.

What turned out to be a dramatic and controversial night had started in a low-key way with both sides doing little to raise the temperature until Simons was sent off.

Van Dijk had a good chance with a header from a Szobszlai free-kick in the 13th minute, but directed the ball straight at Guglielmo Vicario. Randal Kolo Muani had two chances, at first heading a Pedro Porro cross over the bar, and then sending a weak header straight at Alisson from close range.

The first real save of note that either keeper had to make did not come until the 37th minute when Florian Wirtz fired in a low shot that forced Vicario to dive full length to tip the ball away.

By that stage, Spurs were down to ten men after the first controversial decision. Simons slid in on his compatriot Van Dijk on the half-hour with what looked like a clumsy rather than reckless lunge, and Brooks initially gave him a yellow card. But VAR Stuart Atwell persuaded the referee to review the incident and he changed the card's colour from yellow to red after seeing the midfielder's studs land on Van Dijk's calf.

The decision did not go down well with home supporters, and Brooks further angered Tottenham supporters when he waved play on after Spence was bundled over as he ran into the penalty box, which resulted in Connor Bradley receiving treatment.

The full-back was replaced at half-time by Isak, who was soon in the thick of it, having a shot blocked and needing treatment on a knee injury, and then being injured again as he opened the scoring.

Romero made a hash of a simple forward pass in the 57th minute and Liverpool quickly counter-attacked. The ball was fed to Wirtz, who slipped it forward for Isak to fire left-footed into the far corner. But as Micky van de Ven slid in on the Swede, his knee twisted and he limped off in tears after lengthy treatment.

Isak's replacement Jeremie Frimpong, back after a long absence, made an immediate impact by crossing for Liverpool's second goal, though again there was controversy as Ekitike barged Romero off the ball before heading into the far corner of goal. Romero and his manager were booked for complaining.

To their credit, Tottenham did not give up. Kolo Muani was unlucky to hit the bar with a powerful shot that took a deflection off Milos Kerkez, and the Frenchman was then stopped in his tracks by a foul from Ibrahima Konate, whose yellow card received a roar of sarcastic cheers from Tottenham supporters.

And the defender was at fault soon afterwards when he failed to clear a loose ball during a goalmouth scramble, allowing Richarlison to shoot low into the corner of goal.

Now Tottenham's tails were up. Wilson Odobert appealed in vain for a penalty when his cross appeared to be handled, and Porro had a free-kick saved.

By that stage, Spurs were down to nine men, with Romero getting a second yellow card for kicking out in retaliation after Konate had fouled him.

Still the drama continued. Porro had an angled shot saved well by Alisson, who was the busier of the two keepers, and tipped away a cross-shot from Odobert in the tenth minute of stoppage time.

At the final whistle home supporters booed the referee but cheered their team, who showed the sort of spirit and fight that had been missing in recent weeks.

And for Liverpool, it was a third straight win to continue their resurgence, but it was hard fought and may have come at the cost of injury to Isak.

TOTTENHAM 4-3-3: Vicario 6; Porro 6, Romero 5, van de Ven 7, Spence 7; Bentancur 6, Simons 5, Gray 6 (Palhinha 71); Kudus 6 (Johnson 58), Kolo Muani 7 (Richarlison 80), Bergvall 6 (Odobert 71) 

LIVERPOOL 4-2-3-1: Alisson Becker 8; Bradley 6 (Isak 46 [Frimpong 60] {Chiesa 89}, Konate 5, van Dijk 6, Kerkez 6; Gravenberch 6, Jones 7; Szoboszlai 6, Wirtz 7, MacAllister 6; Ekitike 6.

Referee: John Brooks 3