For a brief moment in the second half, it looked as though Liverpool were finally ready to embrace the mundane. Leading 2-0 against a depleted Tottenham side, the Reds appeared to have sucked the air out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But as is so often the case with this iteration of Liverpool, nothing is ever truly settled until the final whistle.
In a match defined by VAR drama, a clinical cameo from Alexander Isak, and a frantic finish, Liverpool eventually escaped with a 2-1 victory. The result moves them level on points with Chelsea in the hunt for the Champions League places, though the manner of the win left more questions than answers.
The Turning Point
The afternoon took its first sharp turn in the opening 45 minutes. A cagey affair was blown wide open when Xavi Simons was dismissed following a VAR review. His challenge on Virgil van Dijk was deemed a “serious foul,” leaving Spurs to play the remaining hour with ten men.
History favored the visitors; Liverpool arrived unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League matches against ten-man sides—a streak dating back to 2015. Yet, despite the numerical advantage, the Reds lacked a cutting edge until the interval.
The game-changer arrived at halftime. Alexander Isak replaced Conor Bradley, forcing a tactical reshuffle that saw Dominik Szoboszlai drop into right-back role. The impact was instantaneous.
In the 56th minute, Florian Wirtz—notching his first Premier League assist—threaded a sublime through-ball behind Cristian Romero. Isak timed his run to perfection, lifting a delicate finish over the advancing Guglielmo Vicario.
It was a moment of pure quality, though it came at a cost; Isak was forced off immediately after the goal following a heavy sliding challenge from Micky van de Ven.
Liverpool seemingly doubled down on their dominance ten minutes later. Jeremie Frimpong, outmaneuvered Djed Spence before hanging a cross into the area. Hugo Ekitike rose highest, looping a header into the top corner to give the Reds what looked like an insurmountable cushion.
Gameweek 15: ⚽⚽
Gameweek 16: ⚽⚽
Gameweek 17: ⚽Hugo Ekitike is in fine form 😮💨#FPL pic.twitter.com/C5ty03Pw3I
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 20, 2025
Spurs Defiance and Liverpool’s Nerves
Then, the familiar Liverpool wobble returned. A chaotic 83rd-minute corner sparked panic in the Liverpool box. A mishit effort from Joao Palhinha eluded both Ekitike and Van Dijk, falling kindly for Richarlison, who hammered the ball home.
Suddenly, the stadium was rocking. Despite Cristian Romero receiving a second yellow card (90+3′) to leave Spurs with just nine men, the hosts refused to fold.
“It was a tough game,” Ekitike admitted afterward. “At 2-0, the game was in our hands, but we put ourselves into difficulties. Spurs were unbelievable today—they pushed us really hard even with two men down.”
Then, the familiar Liverpool wobble returned. Despite Cristian Romero receiving a second yellow card to leave Spurs with just nine men, the hosts refused to fold.
The Owen Verdict
The frantic closing stages didn’t escape the notice of former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who cut a frustrated figure in the post-match analysis.
“That was nerve-racking,” Owen said. “Against ten men, and then nine, that should have been far more comfortable. You never sit comfortably as a Liverpool fan, no matter the lead. Aside from that, it’s a massive result. It puts Liverpool back where they belong, right in the thick of the top four race.”
Three points secured 🙌🔴 pic.twitter.com/tjSnV4NJtN
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2025
