In a flash, the pieces finally clicked together.
It took less than six seconds for Liverpool’s £300m trio to rip through Tottenham’s 10 men after Cristian Romero’s careless pass from defence. Hugo Ekitike looked up and picked out Florian Wirtz, suddenly free in the space he has spent so much time trying to find. Wirtz took a touch and sensed the run immediately, producing the pass. And there was Alexander Isak, supplying the movement and the first-time finish, as well as the ruthlessness Liverpool wanted when they smashed their transfer record to sign him.
And then, like a window that closed as quickly as it had opened, a vision of Liverpool’s future disappeared.
Isak, upon scoring just his second Premier League goal since his record £125m from Newcastle, was clattered into by Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven. The striker’s face revealed the immediate concern, as did the sight of Liverpool’s players cutting their celebrations short. As soon as Isak had lift off, he was grounded again. On as a half-time substitute, he limped off 10 minutes later with an ankle injury that could sideline him for the foreseeable future.
Ekitike’s towering header to double Liverpool’s lead suggested the champions still have a goalscorer. The Frenchman’s fifth goal in three Premier League games ended up being decisive for Arne Slot’s side as they held on against the nine-man hosts, who were reduced in number first by Xavi Simmons’s first-half red card, were then rallied by Richarlison’s late finish, and reduced further by Romero’s even later red for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate.
Another improved performance from Wirtz, who registered his first Premier League assist at long last, was another positive as Liverpool enter a period without Mohamed Salah and their forward options reduced. But the prospect of Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz working in tandem to restore a difficult season remains, for now, only a glimpse.
The reason Isak was called upon at half-time came down to Liverpool needing to exert more authority on a game that was passing them by until Simmons’ straight-red card for catching Liverpool captain, and Simmons’ Netherlands international team-mate, Virgil van Dijk. Until then, Tottenham had been the better side, offering more threat than the visitors, but they found a way to condemn themselves to a 12th home league defeat of 2025.
And Simons’s challenge was on one hand brainless, with his raised studs catching Van Dijk on the calf, and on the other unfortunately mistimed. In real time, and in the stadium, it did not feel forceful. But, once you saw the replays and the frozen image of where his studs landed, and once John Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor, the red card felt inevitable.
When it came and the replays were shown in the stadium to howls from the home supporters, they and Frank were united in their anger. A team and its fanbase that has so often felt disconnected at home became fuelled by its frustration. The Tottenham players who have taken to walking off at half-time as a team to display a sense of togetherness did so to the sound of boos. For once, the boos were not directed at them.
At the same time, Isak began his warm-up. He replaced right back Conor Bradley, who also limped off after clashing with team-mate Curtis Jones while attempting to stop Djed Spence in the box. Tottenham wanted a penalty but the foul went against Spence. But it cut Bradley’s evening short and gives Slot another fitness issue, to another injury-prone player, to deal with over the festive period.
And for Slot, that includes Isak as well. His disrupted spell since forcing through a move from Newcastle to Liverpool on deadline day could now include more injuries than goals. Ekitike will have to lead the line for a little while longer but appears to thrive with the responsibility.
How Liverpool ended up needing his goal on 66 minutes after Richarlison, improbably, pulled one back for Spurs with his latest goal against Liverpool. It sparked, improbably, a late surge. Even after captain Romero’s senseless kick at Konate, reducing Tottenham to nine, Liverpool required Alisson’s safe hands to deny Pedro Porro.
In that wild last period Liverpool lack control and composure. There was far too much drama for a game they should have seen out. They will now, also, be without the central part of its new-look attack, just as it had fired into life.
