Thomas Frank was perhaps lucky not to see his Spurs side finish the match with just eight players on the pitch on Saturday night.
Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Tottenham Hotspur stars Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero were both sent off in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, costing Spurs any points from a strong performance and handing Thomas Frank a team selection nightmare over the coming weeks.
Simons saw a straight red card for a tackle on Virgil van Dijk and will now serve a three game ban while Romero is sidelined for one match having picked up two yellow cards.
What’s frustrating for Frank is that both of those red cards were completely avoidable. Simons was overzealous in closing down Van Dijk, who did not pose a threat, having given the ball away moments prior.
Thomas Frank backs ‘emotions’ of Tottenham Hotspur players
The former RB Leipzig man looked dejected as the big screen showed the dreaded VAR review before John Brooks eventually upgraded a yellow to a red. Meanwhile, Romero’s first booking came for dissent with a second awarded for a kick out at Ibrahima Konate.
Picking up red cards for players not being able to control their emotions is a worrying trend for Spurs. Speaking after the game, Frank said: “I think any player needs to control their emotions and be cool-headed. It's not only because you're a captain that you need to be exceptionally cool-headed.
“That's also always good, of course. We're talking about a very passionate player that's been very good for this club and team in many years.”
Somewhat unbelievably, Spurs are perhaps lucky that Brooks did not spot another player seeing red in the late stages. Richarlison came on from the bench and was amped up having pulled a goal back for the hosts.
Richarlison lucky not to see red for Hugo Ekitike grab
After the Brazil international put the ball in the back of the net, he could be seen on cameras grabbing Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike by the back of the net. The Reds striker was face down on the floor when Richarlison deliberately pushed him down.
Analysing the moment on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp and Daniel Sturridge initially chuckled at the coming together but both then agreed there was ‘no need’ for the behaviour.
LiverpoolWorld point out that there is precedent for a player to be sent off for such an action with Manchester United midfielder Casemiro shown red for grabbing a Crystal Palace player by the throat previously. While Richarlison reached for the neck, and not the throat, FA rules on violent conduct state: “A player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible.”
There’s no doubt that the striker’s action was deliberate and therefore could easily have been shown a red card for Brooks. That would have left Frank with three players suspended for next weekend’s meeting with Crystal Palace.
In other news, Why Tottenham should be concerned for Xavi Simons after 'farcical' Liverpool red card - opinion.