“Massive Error” – Frank Highlights Controversial Liverpool Incident Following Defeat
Liverpool’s recent Premier League victory has once again sparked intense debate over refereeing calls, with post-match comments keeping the controversy alive.
Arne Slot’s team secured a hard-fought 2-1 win in north London, continuing their impressive form, though Hugo Ekitike’s second-half header became the main talking point after the whistle.
In his Sky Sports interview, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank expressed clear anger over the goal being allowed, calling it a pivotal moment in the match.
Frank slammed the officials following Liverpool’s decisive goal, with the Dane claiming Ekitike fouled in the build-up and that VAR should have stepped in despite its availability.
“That’s unbelievable, it’s a huge mistake,” Frank remarked. “It’s two hands in the back from Ekitike. I don’t understand how he can’t see it.”
The moment appeared to be a standard battle in the air, where the French striker simply showed greater determination, and notably, Gary Neville commented live that “it is not a foul”.
The on-field referee judged it correctly in real time, and importantly, there wasn’t sufficient evidence in the contact for VAR to intervene, turning it into one of those subjective calls reliant on the initial decision.
Frank also suggested the incident influenced Cristian Romero’s frustrated response shortly after, which earned the defender his first yellow card in a heated ending.
While much attention centered on Ekitike’s goal, Tottenham’s lack of composure proved expensive once more, as Xavi Simons was dismissed earlier for his tackle on Virgil van Dijk, making the hosts’ task even steeper.
It marked yet another occasion where Spurs struggled to stay composed, aligning with views expressed post-game, such as Joe Hart’s sharp critique on Match of the Day regarding late episodes involving Milos Kerkez that Frank overlooked.
Ekitike captured the game’s intensity perfectly, noting it overstepped boundaries by saying: “That wasn’t football,” as he commented on the highly physical clash.
Joe Hart was similarly direct on Match of the Day, declaring: “They just totally lost control,” in reference to Tottenham’s actions in the final minutes.
With Liverpool now having faced four red cards against opponents this Premier League campaign—more than any other team—they have frequently encountered aggressive tactics.
Though Frank may feel hard done by, the call was a borderline one rather than a “huge mistake,” ultimately hinging on aerial strength, timing, and commitment instead of outright foul play.