Tottenham Hotspur secured a dramatic and contentious victory over a nine-man Liverpool in a Premier League clash that had its fair share of controversy and drama.
Liverpool found themselves in a tough spot due to two highly disputed red cards. The first, given to Curtis Jones, came after just 26 minutes following a VAR review, following a foul on Yves Bissouma. Then, shortly after halftime, Diogo Jota, who had come on as a substitute, received two quick bookings and was sent off, leaving Liverpool with a significant numerical disadvantage for over 20 minutes.
In a match marked by Liverpool’s palpable sense of injustice, they had a goal by Luis Diaz disallowed due to yet another contentious VAR decision. The officials swiftly deemed the Colombian to be offside, despite not displaying the customary offside line graphics.
PGMOL has since issued a statement admitting that a “significant human error” took place, calling the decision to rule out Diaz’s goal “a clear and obvious factual error”.
They say VAR should have intervened, and failed to do so, adding that a “full review” will be conducted to find out why it did not.
Captain Son Heung-min then put Spurs ahead, nine minutes before halftime, receiving a pass from Richarlison after a well-executed play by the summer signing James Maddison.
However, the visitors responded with an equalizer during first-half stoppage time when Cody Gakpo scored while turning from Virgil van Dijk’s header, although the Dutch forward sustained an injury during the goal celebration and did not return for the second half.
In the second half, Spurs had the better chances, with Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson making outstanding saves to deny Maddison and Son. It appeared that Liverpool’s resolute defense would secure them a hard-fought draw until the dramatic final seconds.
As Spurs launched one final attack, Matip inadvertently turned Pedro Porro’s cross high into the net, leaving the helpless Alisson with no chance. This late goal sparked scenes of jubilation and relief among the home supporters, handing Liverpool their first defeat of the season and preserving manager Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten Premier League record.
The climax of the match ignited jubilant celebrations throughout the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the atmosphere has undergone a significant transformation since the arrival of manager Ange Postecoglou.
James Maddison continued to orchestrate the game, playing a pivotal role in Son’s opening goal. The team’s intensity and determination have garnered resounding approval from Spurs fans who had endured more conservative styles of play under previous managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
While this late victory against nine-man opponents may involve an element of fortune, it represents a significant three-point swing against the increasingly formidable Liverpool side, bolstering confidence at Spurs.
For Liverpool, the game was marked by frustration and a sense of injustice. Manager Jurgen Klopp and his players were aggrieved by the red cards given to Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota, and the decision to disallow Luis Diaz’s first-half goal for offside was clearly a glaring error.
Liverpool organized themselves in a resilient 5-3-0 formation, with goalkeeper Alisson serving as an outstanding last line of defense, frustrating Spurs once they were reduced to nine men. While Liverpool has demonstrated their ability to secure results with reduced numbers this season, as seen in wins against Bournemouth and Newcastle United despite being down to ten men, this time it proved too challenging.
Nevertheless, Klopp can take pride in the way Liverpool regrouped and came within seconds of earning a valuable point. Their attacking prowess is well-known, but this match showcased their quality and character at the defensive end, only for their hard work to be in vain due to Matip’s inadvertent late intervention.