A frustrated Thomas Frank took aim at two decisions, both involving the use of the video assistant referee system, that helped swing proceedings in Liverpool’s favour during his Tottenham side’s stormy 2-1 defeat on Saturday night.
Spurs finished with nine men after Cristian Romero was dismissed while they sought an equaliser in added time. But it was the red card handed to Xavi Simons in the first half, upgraded from a yellow after the VAR had slowed down his late challenge on Virgil van Dijk, that infuriated Frank the most. He cut an animated figure on the touchline as Simons departed, and said later that John Brooks’s original decision should have stood.
“I don’t like those types of red card because I think the game is gone if that’s a red card,” he told the BBC soon after the game finished. “I don’t think it’s a reckless tackle. I don’t think it’s exceptional force. We have the referee’s call and that was a yellow, so that’s why I don’t think that’s a red.”
Later on, in his press conference, he rowed back slightly on his suggestion the game had gone, saying that statement was “probably too big”. But his annoyance was clear, as was his sense that the three-match ban Simons now faces would be exorbitant. “If it was an intentional or very stupid tackle then it’s one thing,” he said. “I just think it’s too harsh that a tackle like that can be three games.”
Frank was also incredulous that VAR did not intervene to rule Hugo Ekitiké had pushed Romero in scoring Liverpool’s ultimately decisive second goal. “A big mistake,” he said. “Two hands in the back from the striker: as far as I know the laws of football you are not allowed to do that. 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.”
Romero received a second yellow card after kicking out in a tangle with Ibrahima Konaté and Frank also believed the incident could have been handled more sensibly. “I don’t think it’s a second yellow when you feel the game,” he said.
Tottenham sit 13th and have lost 11 times at home in the league in 2025, a club record. Frank, though, saw green shoots in the form of their resilience. “I’m extremely proud of the players and the team,” he said. “I think they gave everything, showed unbelievable mentality and worked very hard on how to deal with setbacks.”
For Arne Slot, the satisfaction of seeing Liverpool move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea was tempered by concern over Alexander Isak’s departure. The Sweden striker came on at half-time but was on the pitch for only 11 eventful minutes, sustaining an injury after being heavily tackled by Micky van de Ven in the process of scoring the opening goal.
“I don’t have any news on him but if a player scores, gets injured and doesn’t try to come back on then that’s not usually a good thing,” Slot said. “I can’t say any more than that, it’s my gut feeling, not medical. I haven’t spoken to him about it yet.”
The champions are probably out of title contention but have taken 11 points from their last five league games. “It wasn’t perfect, especially in the last 10 minutes, but we’re picking up points,” Slot said. “I think it’s never been as bad as people said but it’s also true that we are definitely not perfect yet. We knew when we made changes in the summer that it would take time.”
