All three goals arrived after the break as Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, who finished the match with nine men. The Reds looked on course for a comfortable win before Spurs pulled one back late on, briefly raising tension at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
That hope faded quickly as Tottenham, already down to 10 players, was reduced to nine deep into stoppage time. Liverpool held firm to seal three valuable points and move into the Premier League’s top five. “We controlled the key moments and showed maturity,” a Liverpool staff member remarked after the match.
Red Cards and Second-Half Goals Decide the Contest
Liverpool dominated possession with 67 percent of the ball, although Tottenham were more direct going forward, registering 15 shots compared to Liverpool’s eight. The opening half saw chances at both ends, with Virgil van Dijk and Randal Kolo Muani both denied by goalkeepers.
The turning point came in the 33rd minute when Xavi Simons was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a foul on Van Dijk. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 56th minute when Alexander Isak converted a pass from Florian Wirtz, though the striker was forced off soon after due to injury. Ten minutes later, Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s advantage with a powerful header.
Tottenham injected late drama in the 83rd minute through Richarlison, but a comeback proved beyond reach. Cristian Romero’s second yellow card in added time left Spurs with nine men, effectively ending their resistance. “Once we went down to nine, it became almost impossible,” a Tottenham source admitted.
Table Impact After Crucial Win
The victory lifts Liverpool to fifth place in the Premier League standings with 29 points from 17 matches. Tottenham remain 13th on 22 points from the same number of games, while Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Chelsea continue to sit above the Reds in the table.