Liverpool were given a man advantage in the first half against Tottenham when the hosts were shown a red card, following a challenge from Xavi Simons on Virgil van Dijk. The referee, John Brooks, initially gave a yellow card to the Spurs playmaker, but was promptly asked to check the VAR monitor.
He did so, witnessing Simons go in fast on Van Dijk with his studs up, quickly causing him to overturn his decision on the field. Brooks addressed the incident and explained it when he said: "After review, the Tottenham number seven [Simons], with studs, catches the Liverpool player [Van Dijk] on the calf high - it's an act of serious foul play. My final decision is red card.”
It was a challenge that was slammed by Gary Neville on Sky Sports, when he said during the VAR review: "It is a ridiculous challenge, considering he was never going to get there. He is absolutely nowhere near that football. He is going to get a red card."
The Premier League Match Centre account on social media quickly put out a statement on the decision, saying: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play."
It was a key moment in the match that changed the balance of it, putting the pressure on Liverpool to dictate it over Tottenham, in a situation that isn't too unfamiliar to the Reds.
Van Dijk was on the receiving end of a similar challenge against Newcastle earlier in the season, when former Everton ace Anthony Gordon caught him with a high challenge with his studs up.
Liverpool will be hoping there isn't quite as much drama this time around, as their match with the Magpies required a late goal to win it.
The Reds have faced their own difficulties, similar to Tottenham, but they have stabilised over the past week or so, with Arne Slot finding some results when needed.
Drama surrounding Mohamed Salah has quietened following his return to the side, and the subsequent call-up to international duty with Egypt for AFCON, while focus continues on progressing this season.
With results elsewhere, Liverpool could put themselves into the top five for the first time in a while, having them firmly back in contention for a Champions League place.
The backline has been shored up as part of a return to form, with three clean sheets in five before taking on Tottenham, albeit at the expense of some attacking flair.
Slot once again changed up his system for the challenge of Spurs, picking Hugo Ekitike up front on his own, while dropping Alexander Isak in the process.
It led to a far from fluent first half in north London, with the red card being the main highlight, but Liverpool were given an advantage that they need the quality to find a breakthrough with.