Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike scored as Liverpool beat nine man Tottenham 2 1 in a chaotic Premier League clash in north London.
Liverpool claimed a dramatic 2-1 Premier League win away to Tottenham after a chaotic night in north London. Goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike proved decisive against a Spurs side reduced to nine men. The victory lifts Liverpool to fifth in the table and extends their unbeaten league run to five games.
Tottenham were competitive early but discipline again cost them dearly. Xavi Simons was sent off in the first half, while Cristian Romero followed late on. Spurs pushed hard despite the setbacks, but Liverpool held firm under late pressure.
The opening half was cagey, with few clear chances at either end. Tottenham showed intent through Randal Kolo Muani, while Virgil van Dijk headed straight at Guglielmo Vicario. The game changed in the 33rd minute.
Xavi Simons caught Van Dijk with his studs during a late and needless challenge. He was initially shown a yellow card, but referee John Brooks upgraded the booking to a straight red after a VAR review. Tottenham were left to play over an hour with ten men, and Liverpool sensed an opening.
Despite the numerical advantage, Liverpool failed to score before the break. Vicario denied Florian Wirtz, and Spurs held on to reach half time level.
Arne Slot introduced Alexander Isak at the interval to replace the injured Conor Bradley, and the change paid off quickly. In the 56th minute, Florian Wirtz slipped a clever pass through the middle. Isak finished calmly past Vicario but was injured in the collision with Micky van de Ven.
Isak was forced off moments later as Slot turned to Jeremie Frimpong to replace him, but Liverpool stayed on the front foot. Ten minutes on, Jeremie Frimpong’s deflected cross found Hugo Ekitike. The French forward looped a header beyond Vicario to make it 2-0.
Tottenham responded with urgency late on despite their disadvantage. Randal Kolo Muani struck the crossbar, and Richarlison was introduced to spark a response. The substitute delivered in the 83rd minute, turning in from close range after Liverpool failed to clear.
Liverpool’s summer signings again shaped the outcome. Wirtz registered his first Premier League assist, while Ekitike scored for the fifth time in three league games. His aerial presence caused Spurs problems throughout the second half.
For Tottenham, Richarlison made an immediate impact off the bench. However, Romero’s late dismissal summed up a frustrating evening. The defender received a second yellow card in stoppage time for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate, leaving Spurs with nine men.
Liverpool looked nervous late on but defended resolutely to protect their lead.
Tottenham finished with 15 shots to Liverpool’s eight despite the red cards. Spurs also posted a higher expected goals figure of 1.07 compared to Liverpool’s 0.66. Liverpool, however, were clinical when it mattered.
The defeat leaves Spurs with just two home league wins this season. Liverpool move level on points with fourth placed Chelsea but with an inferior goal difference.
Tottenham return to action on December 28th with a trip to Crystal Palace, where Romero and Simons will both be suspended. Liverpool face back-to-back home matches against Wolves on December 27th and Leeds on New Years day, as they push for a top four place.
