Tottenham secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against a nine-man Liverpool side in a match filled with controversy. Joel Matip’s own-goal in the final moments sealed the win for Tottenham, while Liverpool had a goal disallowed that should have stood according to the referees’ body. Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were both sent off for Liverpool, disrupting their unbeaten start to the Premier League season. Despite an intense climax in north London, Liverpool’s resistance was ultimately broken.
The referees’ body, PGMOL, later admitted to a “significant human error” in disallowing Liverpool’s goal. They stated that VAR should have intervened and awarded the goal.
Tottenham took the lead through Son Heung-min’s goal, but Cody Gakpo equalized just before halftime. Liverpool’s chances dwindled further when Jota received a red card in the second half. As the game seemed destined for a draw, Matip accidentally redirected Pedro Porro’s cross into his own net, securing the win for Tottenham.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his frustration with the match, calling it “the most unfair circumstances” with “crazy decisions.” Klopp highlighted the incorrect offside call and the harsh red cards for Curtis Jones and Jota.
This victory was significant for Tottenham, as they had only won once in their previous 23 meetings with Liverpool. Additionally, it was their first win against Liverpool since 2017. Tottenham’s win propelled them to second place in the league, just one point behind Manchester City. On the other hand, Liverpool, who suffered their first defeat in nine games, dropped to fourth place.
For Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, this victory carried special meaning as he grew up idolizing Liverpool and their legendary manager Bill Shankly. Postecoglou has made an impressive impact on Tottenham, having already defeated Liverpool, Manchester United, and drawn with Arsenal.
Postecoglou emphasized that Tottenham is still a developing team and praised their ability to overcome various challenges in the match. The late goal in stoppage time left a lasting impact.
The match featured several pivotal moments, including Jones’ red card in the first half and Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal for Liverpool. Tottenham took the lead through Son’s goal, assisted by James Maddison and Richarlison. Gakpo equalized for Liverpool just before halftime. Jota’s needless red card further disadvantaged Liverpool. Tottenham continued to press against Liverpool’s strong defense, ultimately finding success in stoppage time with Matip’s own-goal.
