1-2 v Liverpool FC - 20 December 2025 - Home

Alexander Isak came off the bench to score for Liverpool but was forced off with injury as the Reds won a chaotic Premier League match at nine-man Tottenham.

Isak broke the deadlock in the 56th minute but was injured in the act of scoring, before Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool's lead 10 minutes later.

Spurs substitute Richarlison pulled a goal back, but Liverpool held on to inflict further pain on Thomas Frank, whose side had Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off and have now won just one of their past eight league games.

After a cagey start, Simons was dismissed for a foul on Virgil van Dijk in the 33rd minute following a VAR review, with referee John Brooks upgrading his original yellow card to red.

Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor and ruled it was "serious foul play" after Simons raked his studs down the calf of Van Dijk - his captain for the Netherlands.

With the game there for the taking, Slot sent Isak on at half-time after Conor Bradley suffered a knock - and the £125m British record signing finished coolly past Guglielmo Vicario after being fed by Florian Wirtz for his first Premier League assist.

However, as Isak got his shot away he was floored by Micky van de Ven and was unable to celebrate his goal.

The Sweden forward looked in serious pain and he was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong just 15 minutes after coming on.

Spurs came close to equalising when Randal Kolo Muani's deflected effort hit the bar, but Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Frimpong's deflected cross was met by France forward Ekitike, who headed in his fifth goal in his past three league games.

Spurs were furious that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming Ekitike had fouled Romero - with the Tottenham captain subsequently booked for his protests.

Frank introduced Richarlison for Kolo Muani in the 80th minute and three minutes later, the Brazil attacker was on hand to finish past Alisson in a crowded penalty box after Liverpool failed to clear their lines.

The visitors looked nervy as 10-man Tottenham hunted for an equaliser late on, but the hosts had another player sent off when Romero was given a second yellow card in injury time for lashing out at Ibrahima Konate after Spurs won a free-kick.

Liverpool managed to hold on for a victory which moves them up to fifth in the league - and they are now unbeaten in their past six after a run of nine defeats in 12.

Liverpool analysis: Win comes at a cost for Slot

Slot delighted with 'unbelievable' win against nine-man Tottenham With Mohamed Salah away on Africa Cup of Nations duty and Cody Gakpo injured, Arne Slot resisted the urge to start Ekitike and Isak up front together.

But when Bradley suffered a knock just before the break, Slot sent on Isak for the second half and was quickly rewarded, although the former Newcastle forward now looks like he is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Slot was ecstatic on the touchline after the opening goal, as his two biggest summer signings combined, with Wirtz providing the assist - but that joy was short-lived after the challenge by Van de Ven left Isak unable to carry on.

Ekitike then showed again why he is such a threat with a delightful header for his ninth league goal of the season - and Liverpool can take some comfort from the fact the Frenchman continues to deliver, in the absence of other attacking options.

In the end, this was a big win for Liverpool which moved them level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.

However, it remains to be seen at what cost the victory came - with Frimpong, who has just returned from a spell out injured, also forced off in stoppage time having come on for Isak, who had himself replaced Bradley.

Slot insisted after the game that Frimpong was fine, but said Liverpool would have to wait to see the extent of the injuries to Isak and Bradley.

Tottenham analysis: Woeful home record continues

Frank proud of players' 'unbelievable mentality' in defeat With one win in their past seven league games before Saturday and Frank under increasing pressure, it was interesting to see the Spurs boss leave top scorer Richarlison on the bench.

The introduction of the Brazilian late on changed the game - and even though Spurs finished with nine men, Liverpool were lucky to hold on. At times in the latter stages it was hard to tell Tottenham had fewer players on the pitch.

Spurs were certainly not helped by Simons' first-half moment of madness.

The Dutchman will miss three games and left his side in a mess here, but his team-mates showed plenty of character even after going 2-0 down and can take some confidence from that.

Questions must also be asked of Romero, who was needlessly sent off late on and will miss the trip to Crystal Palace.

Ultimately, though, this was yet another defeat for Tottenham at home.

They have won just two of their nine league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, with only Wolves (zero) having fewer wins in front of their own fans.

The 11 league games Spurs have lost at home across 2025 is also the most in a calendar year in club history.