Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank was fuming after his side were reduced to nine men in their loss to Liverpool
Thomas Frank is adamant the Liverpool goal that beat his Tottenham Hotspur side should not have been allowed. And the Spurs boss has also questioned the red cards for Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero during an explosive Premier League clash in London on Saturday evening.
Second-half goals from substitute Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike earned Liverpool a 2-1 triumph with Richarlison’s late strike ensuring a nervy finish.
Tottenham, though, were convinced Ekitike’s header from a deflected Jeremie Frimpong cross should have been disallowed for a push by the Liverpool man on Romero.
OPINION
And Frank said: “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.”
Simons was dismissed on 33 minutes for a foul on Virgil van Dijk after referee John Brooks was invited by VAR to consult his pitchside monitor after initially awarding a yellow card.
“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,” said Frank.
“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 earlier been booked, was sent off for a second yellow during additional time after a tangle on the floor with Ibrahima Konate after being fouled by the Liverpool player.
“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.
“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.”