Liverpool handed Alexander Isak worry but survive late Tottenham scare - 5 talking points
TOTTENHAM 1-2 LIVERPOOL: Xavi Simons' red card helps Arne Slot's side win in north London thanks to goals from summer signings Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, but they made hard work of it
Liverpool continued their mini-revival and heaped more pressure on Thomas Frank by earning victory over nine-man Tottenham. Xavi Simons' first-half red card tipped the scales in Liverpool's favour and they took full advantage to make it six games unbeaten in all competitions, despite a nervy and chaotic finish.
Simons was sent off for standing on Virgil van Dijk's calf in the 33rd minute of a dreadful first half in which the best chance fell to Randal Kolo Muani, who tamely headed straight at Alisson.
Thankfully, the game came to life after the break, when Alexander Isak was introduced by Arne Slot. A Cristian Romero mistake opened the door for Liverpool, who took advantage as Florian Wirtz found Isak to blast in as he got clattered by Micky van de Ven.
Isak was injured and had to be replaced, but the goal ignited the match as Kolo Muani struck the crossbar with a deflected shot. Minutes later and it was 2-0 as Jeremie Frimpong's cross found its way to Hugo Ekitike who climbed above Romero to nod in via the crossbar.
Richarlison climbed off the bench and fired a loose ball into the bottom corner after an air-kick by Van Dijk. But it was to prove a false dawn as Romero was shown a second yellow card in injury time and defeat left Spurs 13th in the Premier League table and with a solitary win in their last eight league games.
After a drab opening half-hour, the crowd were finally brought to their feet, but not by a chance. Simons was closing down Van Dijk when he trod on the Liverpool captain's calf. Having initially issued a yellow card, referee John Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor and the Dutchman's fate was sealed.
The Premier League Match Centre explained: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play. Referee announcement: “After review, the Tottenham No.7, with studs, catches the Liverpool player [No.4] on the calf high - it's an act of serious foul play. My final decision is red card.”
Gary Neville's take on Sky Sports was slightly different in tone: "Simons was never going to get there. He rakes his studs right down the back of Van Dijk's leg. That's not clever. That's not a good challenge. He is absolutely nowhere near the football. Malicious, nasty, reckless? Whatever you want to call it. Stupidity."
The first half was a tough watch. Coming into the game under pressure, there was a cautious approach by Thomas Frank's side, who appeared to set up to frustrate their opponents, rather than impose themselves in attack.
Without Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool had a similar set-up, with Arne Slot packing the pitch with midfielders. Dominik Szoboszlai has taken the place of Salah in recent weeks on the right, while Wirtz started on the left, leaving Liverpool extremely narrow, with Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley struggling to bomb on from full-back.
The half-time stats showed just how dull it had been, with nine shots but of little consequence, Spurs having 0.44 xG to Liverpool's 0.25 xG. Thankfully, the second half was to make up for it in drama.
Early in the second half, Spurs had the chance to counter-attack. The ball came to Mohammed Kudus in space. He turned and passed backwards. The home ground groaned. A few seconds later he got it again in space, but decided to stand on the ball. Cue more groans. Kudus then passed the ball harmlessly out of play for a Liverpool goal kick while trying to find a teammate making an imaginary run. The Spurs fans' abuse and annoyance was audible.
Frank reacted and replaced Kudus - a £55million and previously exciting winger - with Brennan Johnson. But his embarrassing few minutes summed up his team: bereft of confidence, seemingly confused by the game plan and worried about taking risks.
Peter Crouch was among the pundits to suggest that Salah's absence would give Slot the chance to play Isak alongside Ekitike. He was right, but not in the way he might have expected, with the two of them only on the pitch together for less than 10 minutes. But there was still a glimpse of Liverpool's future.
Firstly, it was Wirtz who slid Isak in with a nicely-weighted through ball. The ex-Newcastle man did what he used to be known for, by confidently smashing his finish into the net. But the excitement around Ekitike will be even greater, with the way he bullied Romero to nod in no doubt bringing thousands of clenched fists around the globe from Reds fans; he now has five goals in his last three league games and looks the part.
All looked lost for Spurs, right up until it didn't. Richarlison's introduction from the bench lifted the crowd and he was in the right place at the right time to sweep in a loose ball, following pinball in the box. Van Dijk somehow missed his swing at the ball, gifting the chance to the Brazilian, who found the bottom corner and managed to stir things by pushing Ekitike's neck into the ground while picking the ball out of the net.
Romero made things easier for Liverpool by aiming a sly kick at Ibrahima Konate following a challenge. But Alisson still had to make a few saves from Pedro Porro to clinch the three points as they somehow toiled against nine men.
