{"id":6103,"date":"2025-12-20T21:43:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T21:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=6103"},"modified":"2025-12-20T21:43:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T21:43:47","slug":"ekitike-and-isak-help-liverpool-squeeze-past-nine-man-tottenham-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=6103","title":{"rendered":"Ekitike and Isak help Liverpool squeeze past nine-man Tottenham | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>Defending champions Liverpool win 2-1 at Tottenham to climb to fifth in the Premier League table.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 20 Dec 2025<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">20 Dec 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p>Click here to share on social media<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"icon icon--share2 icon--primary icon--16 \" viewbox=\"0 0 20 16\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>share2<\/title><path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11.688 9.048c-.659 0-1.252.282-1.673.733l-4.92-2.45c.016-.115.028-.232.028-.352 0-.117-.011-.23-.027-.343l4.913-2.423a2.285 2.285 0 0 0 1.68.739C12.964 4.952 14 3.899 14 2.6 14 1.302 12.965.25 11.688.25S9.377 1.302 9.377 2.601c0 .117.01.23.027.343L4.49 5.367a2.285 2.285 0 0 0-1.68-.739C1.536 4.628.5 5.681.5 6.979c0 1.299 1.035 2.35 2.312 2.35.659 0 1.252-.281 1.673-.731l4.92 2.45a2.357 2.357 0 0 0-.029.351c0 1.299 1.035 2.351 2.312 2.351S14 12.698 14 11.399s-1.035-2.35-2.312-2.35Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>Alexander Isak endured a bittersweet evening as the Liverpool striker scored before limping off injured in a chaotic 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham.<\/p>\n<p>Isak put Liverpool ahead in the second half in north London on Saturday after Tottenham\u2019s Xavi Simons was sent off before the interval for a nasty lunge on Virgil van Dijk.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 4 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>It was only Isak\u2019s third goal in 16 games in all competitions since his British record 125-million-pound ($166m) move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.<\/p>\n<p>Yet in keeping with Isak\u2019s troubled start to life with the Premier League champions, the 26-year-old was unable to fully enjoy his goal as he was forced to come off after being injured by Micky van de Ven\u2019s failed attempt to stop him scoring.<\/p>\n<p>Hugo Ekitike\u2019s fifth goal in his last four appearances put Liverpool in command before Richarlison\u2019s reply set up a tense finale that came to a head with Tottenham defender Romero\u2019s dismissal in stoppage time.<\/p>\n<p>Arne Slot\u2019s side are up to fifth place in the Premier League after extending their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions, further distancing them from the miserable run of nine defeats in 12 that plunged them into crisis.<\/p>\n<p>While Liverpool steadied the ship with a third successive win, Isak\u2019s injury could not have come at a worse time following Mohamed Salah\u2019s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n<p>Slot claimed on Friday that Liverpool had \u201cmoved on\u201d from the Salah controversy after his explosive interview two weeks ago in which he said he had been thrown under the bus by the club and no longer had a relationship with the Reds boss.<\/p>\n<p>He was dropped from the squad for a Champions League game at Inter Milan but returned as a substitute in last week\u2019s victory over Brighton.<\/p>\n<p>The 33-year-old is now on international duty with Egypt for several weeks, making Isak\u2019s injury an especially painful blow if he is ruled out for a prolonged period.<\/p>\n<p>Slot will spend Christmas sweating on Isak\u2019s fitness, and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank\u2019s festive period will be even more fraught.<\/p>\n<p>Last weekend\u2019s limp 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest sparked debate over the Dane\u2019s future in his rocky first season in charge.<\/p>\n<p>Tottenham are languishing in 13th place after winning just one of their last eight league games.<\/p>\n<p>Ange Postecoglou was sacked despite winning the Europa League last season to end Tottenham\u2019s 17-year trophy drought, and Frank is in danger of suffering the same fate as the Australian if results do not improve soon.<\/p>\n<p>Simons left Tottenham with a mountain to climb in the 33rd minute when he raked his studs down Van Dijk\u2019s calf with an ugly challenge from behind.<\/p>\n<p>Initially booked for the foul, Simons was shown the red card after a VAR review.<\/p>\n<p>Slot sent on Isak for the injured Conor Bradley at half-time and it took the Sweden striker just 11 minutes to make an impact as Liverpool broke the deadlock with a goal 300 million pounds ($399m) in the making.<\/p>\n<p>All three of Liverpool\u2019s costly close-season signings combined as Ekitike picked out Florian Wirtz, and he slipped a perfectly weighted pass to Isak, who timed his run to drill a clinical finish past Guglielmo Vicario from 10 yards.<\/p>\n<p>Ekitike doubled Liverpool\u2019s lead in the 66th minute.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremie Frimpong\u2019s deflected cross looped into the six-yard box, where Ekitike out-jumped Romero to thump his header into the top corner.<\/p>\n<p>Richarlison reduced the deficit with a close-range blast after Reds captain van Dijk miscued a clearance in the 83rd minute.<\/p>\n<p>But, with the visitors wobbling, Romero\u2019s second booking for kicking Ibrahima Konate let Liverpool off the hook.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Defending champions Liverpool win 2-1 at Tottenham to climb to fifth in the Premier League table. Published On 20 Dec 202520 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Alexander Isak endured a bittersweet evening as the Liverpool striker scored before limping off injured in a chaotic 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham. 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