Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank was left fuming on Sunday morning (AEDT) after his playing group was reduced to nine men in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
A troubling home record could not come to an end against the reigning Premier League champions as Xavi Simons and captain Cristian Romero were left seeing red.
It wasn’t all good news for Liverpool either, with high-priced recruit Alexander Isak suffered an ankle injury.
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As he nailed the Reds first goal against Spurs in the 56th minute, the striker’s left ankle was hurt by a challenge from Micky van de Ven and he was then helped from the field.
Alexander Isak leaves the field injured. Getty
Isak immediately screamed in pain after the incident and there was a lengthy delay while his Liverpool teammates and medical staff surrounded him and helped him off.
“I don’t have any news about him,” coach Arne Slot told Sky Sports post-game.
“If a player scores and then gets injured and doesn’t try to come back that’s usually not a good thing. “That is just a guy feeling and nothing more than that.
“Nothing medical to say about it. Let’s hope he’s back with us soon.”
Tottenham were already down to 10 men at that point after Simons’ red card for a studs-up foul on Virgil van Dijk in the 33rd minute.
Simons was nowhere near the ball when the act was completed, but initially he only escaped with a yellow card.
Xavi Simons is shown red for a tackle of Virgil van Dijk. Stan
It was not until VAR intervened that he realised he was heading off the field, much to the disappointment and anger of his manager.
“I don’t like those types of red cards because I think the game is gone,” Frank told the BBC at full time.
“He is trying to put pressure and then he changes direction and then unfortunately his foot is on his Achilles. I don’t think it’s a reckless tackle.
“You can say ‘you need to be smarter, don’t do it’ and all that but so we are not allowed to have physical contact anymore? So that’s the thing.”
Simons could be set to face a ban of at least three matches for the act, a sanction which Frank declared was “too harsh” for a tackle of that nature.
“How can he get three games for something that is not reckless?” he continued.
“That is absolutely wrong and we probably can’t appeal it.”
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Frank then pointed to the “mistake” VAR made by not intervening when Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead with a header in the 66th minute.
Tottenham players were seen pleading with the referee that Ekitike had pushed his hands into the back of Romero when going for the ball.
“Two hands in the back from the striker: as far as I know the laws of football you are not allowed to do that,” Frank said.
“That’s fine to happen on the pitch, the referees are only human but then the VAR bails you out, which they didn’t do.”
Cristian Romero speaks with the referee Getty
It was Richarlison who gave Tottenham signs of life in the 83rd minute, but any hopes of stealing a late point at home were dashed in stoppage time when Cristian Romero was sent off after kicking out at Ibrahima Konate.
Manchester United great Gary Neville did not hold back his anger about Romero’s act.
“He cost his team a goal … they’re just about to get back in it,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I mean, what is he doing? He’s only two or three yards from him. Stupidity.
“Forget the fact that it’s madness because he’s already on a yellow card, his team have got a chance to get a goal back. Who’s he shouting at? Get in the dressing room.”
Frank’s response to the incident was simple: “It is a foul, nothing more.
“His foot lands on Cuti’s head. Not a yellow, not saying that. Cuti makes a reaction.
“Any player needs to control their emotions and be cool-headed, it is not only because you are captain. You are talking about a very passionate player who has been very good for this club in many years.”
Liverpool climbed to fifth place, while Tottenham slump to 13th spot.
Erling Haaland celebrates his first goal Visionhaus/Getty Images
Elsewhere, goalscoring freak Erling Haaland continues to etch his name in the history books, scoring twice in Manchester City‘s 3-0 rout against West Ham.
Haaland has now struck on 19 occasions in 17 games this season and moved past Cristiano Ronaldo on the all-time Premier League scoring list against the Hammers.
The victory lifted City into first place for a few hours, but Arsenal regained a two-point lead after recording a 1-0 win over Everton.
In other results, Chelsea came from two goals down to draw at Newcastle 2-2 and the last-placed Wolves remained winless after a 2-0 loss at home to Brentford.
The draw keeps Chelsea inside the top-four on the table, level with Liverpool on points but ahead on goal difference.
Aston Villa play Manchester United on Monday morning (AEDT).