Tottenham 1–2 Liverpool: Former PGMOL Boss Says Referee Overlooked a Third Red Card Incident

Former PGMOL head and ex-Premier League referee Keith Hackett has suggested that Liverpool’s 2–1 win over Tottenham on Saturday could have seen a third red card.

Xavi Simons was dismissed in the first half for a reckless tackle on Virgil van Dijk, a decision that proved costly for Spurs. Liverpool took advantage after the break when Alexander Isak fired past Guglielmo Vicario to open the scoring. Hugo Ekitike then added a second before Richarlison pulled one back late on, though it was not enough to spark a comeback. Tottenham’s problems worsened when Cristian Romero received a second yellow card for lashing out at Ibrahima Konate.

Despite two sendings-off already, Hackett believes referee John Brooks missed another major decision. The former official criticised Richarlison’s behaviour after the Brazilian scored Spurs’ only goal. As Tottenham players tried to quickly restart play, Ekitike delayed them, leading to both players falling to the ground. As he stood up, Richarlison appeared to grab Ekitike by the back of the neck.

Hackett argued that this should have resulted in a red card for violent conduct. Speaking to Football Insider, he said Richarlison was lucky to escape punishment, claiming the incident was overlooked by the referee and VAR alike. He added that the striker needs closer monitoring, warning that his actions could easily have warranted a dismissal.

The win lifts Liverpool to fifth in the table and marks three consecutive victories in all competitions. After a difficult recent spell, manager Arne Slot expressed his satisfaction with the result, praising his side for securing an important away win at a tough venue against a strong opponent.

Liverpool now turn their attention to a home match against bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 27 December, while Tottenham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park the following day in a London derby.