Thomas Frank rages at 'big mistake' and two more decisions in Liverpool win over Tottenham

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has criticised three key refereeing decisions after his side's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool, including the goal that sealed the Reds' victory

Thomas Frank speaks to referee John Brooks after the Tottenham vs Liverpool game(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)

Thomas Frank is insistent that the Liverpool goal which defeated his Tottenham Hotspur team should have been disallowed. The Spurs manager also expressed doubts over the red cards given to Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero during a fiery Premier League encounter in north London on Saturday.

Liverpool clinched a 2-1 victory thanks to second-half goals from substitute Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, with Richarlison's late effort ensuring a tense finale.

However, Tottenham were adamant that Ekitike's header, resulting from a deflected Jeremie Frimpong cross, should have been ruled out due to a push by the Liverpool player on Spurs captain Romero.

Frank stated: "I think the second goal was a mistake from the referee. I think there's two clear hands in the back, and I don't understand how he can do that.

"I've seen a thousand times on the pitch, two hands in the back, foul. I think that was a big mistake in my opinion from the referee and VAR," reports the Liverpool Echo.

Simons was sent off in the 33rd minute for a foul on Virgil van Dijk after referee John Brooks was advized by VAR to review his pitchside monitor, having initially issued a yellow card.

Xavi Simons is sent off for his challenge on Virgil van Dijk(Image: 2025 Getty Images)

"The first red, I've seen them given before but I've said before when I was at Brentford that I don't like this as a red card," Frank commented.

"It's not reckless, it's not exceptional force, he's chasing Van Dijk, trying to put pressure on him, he changed direction and then his foot is on his Achilles. We are not allowed to have physical contact now?

"We now miss him for three games. But how can he get three games for something that isn't reckless? But we responded excellently to that."

Romero, who had already been cautioned, received his marching orders for a second yellow card during stoppage time following a scuffle on the ground with Ibrahima Konate after being fouled by the Liverpool defender.

"The second red we got on the wrong end too," said Frank. "There's probably a reason why the whole team reacts as they do. Normally if there's more than one player reacting there's something.

"I can't see if it's right or wrong. I see two big boys competing, it's a foul nothing more from Konate. His foot lands on Romero's head. (Romero) makes a reaction and I guess it can be given and I guess it can be not given.

Cristian Romero is sent off by referee John Brooks(Image: (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images))

"Any player needs to control their emotions and be cool-headed, if they are captain or not. But we're talking about a very passionate player who has been very good for this club."

Frank added: "Overall it was a good performance tonight from the players and team, how they responded to setbacks throughout the game.

"It was something we'd been working very hard on as that's the biggest thing – the best teams need to do that, the best teams deal with that. There was great personality and character in the team."