Liverpool Echo

Reaction from Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in London on Saturday

Virgil van Dijk says everyone at Liverpool is targeting a strong end to 2025 after the 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday moved them up to fifth in the Premier League.

After Xavi Simons was sent off in the first half, strikes from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike after the break put the visitors in control before a late effort from Richarlison set up a tense finish.

Thomas Frank's Spurs continued to push for an equaliser even after Cristian Romero was also sent off for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate but Arne Slot's men held on to go six games unbeaten.

Liverpool entertain rock-bottom Wolves next at Anfield on December 27 before another home fixture with Leeds United on New Year's Day and Reds skipper Van Dijk has called on the club to finish the calendar year in style.

"The aim is to try to win every game ahead of us," Van Dijk said. "Unfortunately this season has had a lot of difficult moments in terms of results and performances as well.

"But all we can try to do is get better. We're at a club where we have a lot of opportunities to show what we can do. Now we focus on Christmas and being with the family, and then focus on Wolves. "Winning more, getting results, is always positive. Losing games, especially at a club like Liverpool, is always bad. For us it's about staying calm. Taking each game as it comes. Today we won. Now we have a couple of days off. "We will recover and then we will focus on Wolves. It will be a tough game. I saw their game against Spurs. Wolves will make it difficult for us and we have to be ready for that. First we have Christmas. Being with your family and being healthy are the most important things in life. "The immediate reaction coming off was that it was a chaotic last five to 10 minutes. It wasn't great but to get the three points is massive. There was nothing wrong up to us conceding a goal. We need to analyse the last part but personally I'm very pleased and it's on to the next one. "When you concede a goal and their fans get behind them like they did, it's never easy to make the right decisions and find the right solutions.

"That's something we can improve but I don't think it's worrying. It's a transition and we need to keep getting better. [The ending of the game] is something we will discuss within the squad." On Isak, who is now sweating on the severity of an injury after being forced off with the aid of the physios after being caught by Micky van den Ven when scoring the opening goal, Van Dijk added: "Injuries unfortunately are part of football and hopefully with Alex it's not too bad. "He scored a great goal. It's too soon after the game to know (the extent of it). He will need to be assessed. Hopefully the injuries won't be too bad. We all saw how bad it looked with Alex but hopefully it won't be too bad."

Van Dijk, who was part of a Liverpool contingent who got together for a Christmas meal in London on Saturday night, was caught on the Achilles by his Netherlands international colleague Simons after around half an hour and after referee John Brooks checked with the pitch-side monitor, the initial yellow card was upgraded to red.

"I don't think there was any intention to hurt me but obviously he hurt me and then the referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off," Van Dijk added. "Yeah I spoke to him [after the game]. It's a chat that no-one needs to know."

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak sustained an injury after scoring Liverpool's opening goal in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday evening, before Hugo Ekitike found the net again

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has been told he will need to step up in the coming weeks following the injury sustained by Alexander Isak in the Premier League win over Tottenham on Saturday evening.

Arne Slot's side edged a narrow 2-1 victory over the north London club, with Isak initially opening the scoring at the start of the second half after the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the first. Attacking midfielder Xavi Simons was shown a straight red card after VAR intervention for a dangerous tackle on Virgil van Dijk.

Despite opening the scoring for Liverpool, Isak wasn't able to celebrate his second Premier League goal for the Reds. In the process of finding the net, Spurs defender Micky van de Ven brought him down and his ankle appeared to get trapped between the Dutchman's legs.

OPINION

The stretcher was initially called for, but Isak was able to limp off the pitch with the help of Liverpool medical staff. The club now face an anxious wait to determine the extent of the injury, although fears of a potential ACL tear were put at ease on Saturday night, with The Athletic reporting the initial prognosis is a lower-leg injury, as opposed to the knee.

Ekitike went on to score Liverpool's second goal of the night to make it 2-0, before Spurs substitute Richarlison pulled a goal back late on. The hosts were reduced to nine men in stoppage time as Cristian Romero was sent off for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate, and Slot's men were just about able to cling on to their slender lead and secure all three points.

Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day after the game, pundit Shay Given admitted losing Isak for any amount of time would be a cruel blow for Liverpool.

That said, he noted that it is time for Ekitike to step up in Isak's absence, especially with Mohamed Salah also set to be absent for the next few games due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.

"It’s a big loss if Isak has gone off injured again," Given explained. "He’s had a stop-start campaign so far. But, Ekitike looks the real deal, doesn’t he?

"A brilliant striker and he’ll have to step up. Obviously, Mo Salah has left as well go to the Africa Cup of Nations. Ekitike will have to stay fit as well because it’s a big loss if Isak is out for a number of weeks now as well."

Slot did issue a brief update on Isak post-match, admitting it never looks good when a player is unable to continue, especially after scoring a goal. "We'll have to wait and see," the head coach admitted.

"But if a player scores and then gets injured and doesn't try to come back on the pitch, that's usually not a good thing."

Liverpool return to action on December 27, just a couple of days after Christmas. They will host Wolves at Anfield in a Premier League clash.

Slot will have some tough selection decisions, however, in light of recent injuries. All of Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz were forced off with issues at various points during the game.

'Close to crisis' - National media give verdict on Liverpool's victory at Tottenham Hotspur

A look at how the national media reacted to Liverpool's 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday

Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to six games with a nervy 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening. The hosts were reduced to 10 men after around half an hour when Xavi Simons was dismissed for a rake down Virgil van Dijk's Achilles before Spurs were then sent to nine after Cristian Romero kicked out at Ibrahima Konate when already on a booking.

That was after Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike had given the visitors a two-goal cushion but a strike from Richarlison set up a tense finish to the game as Arne Slot's men held on against the battling nine of Thomas Frank's team.

The ECHO, as ever, was at the game to run the rule over proceedings. You can find our match verdict, player ratings and analysis here. Our live blog offering and the reaction of Slot was also covered in our exhaustive match-day package.

OPINION

Our colleagues from the national media were also on hand to give their considered takes. Here's what they made of things on what was an eventful night in North London.

Riath Al-Samarrai, of the Daily Mail, pens: "If Alexander Isak is to one day make a success of his move to Liverpool, then it will need to be achieved in the absence of luck. Whatever else folk think of him, the poor fella has none, evidenced by one swing of his left leg that helped win a game and quite possibly wrecked his own season, too.

"A full diagnosis of an injury to his knee will come in time, but lengthy treatment and the sight of him being helped from the pitch here stirred fears of a potentially serious issue.

"If that is the case, it will be desperately unfortunate, not least for the fact that it was sustained in the act of scoring for 1-0 just 11 minutes after entering the game as a half-time substitute.

"Sympathy around his previous difficulties has been limited owing to the methods he deployed in leaving Newcastle, but only the cold-hearted wouldn’t feel for him in this scenario, which encompassed a huge contribution to Liverpool winning a wild game.

"By that, we should offer a fuller explanation of a match that overflowed with tantrums, bonkers tidal shifts and an enormous volume of cards from the pocket of referee John Brooks. Of the latter, there were eight yellows, two of which were shown to Cristian Romero, and one straight red for Xavi Simons at 0-0 that will inspire major frustrations within Thomas Frank."

The Telegraph's Sam Wallace writes: "By the end, Arne Slot’s players were hanging on for a win against a dysfunctional nine-man Tottenham Hotspur team with one of the worst home records in the club’s history – so not all of this felt like a great triumph for the defending Premier League champions.

"Liverpool are back up to fifth place and with the first three-game winning streak since their season went into nosedive at the end of September. In many respects it unfolded as Slot and Fenway Sports Group would have hoped: goals for Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, a Premier League assist at last for Florian Wirtz and no post-match remarks from Mohamed Salah. And yet there was much they will regret.

"Once again, Liverpool very nearly folded at the end – just as Spurs were themselves doing their best to self-destruct. A strange kind of game between two sides who both seem very close to a crisis of confidence at any moment. There is, for Liverpool, the added concern of an injury to Isak whose brief eight minutes on the pitch after coming on at half-time encompassed much action.

"Isak was kicked once by Rodrigo Bentancur before dispatching the first goal of the game just moments before Micky van de Ven’s tackle trapped the striker’s left leg. He could not even get to his feet to celebrate. Isak would go off with an arm around a shoulder of each of the two supporting physiotherapists, although some weight was placed on his injured left leg."

On the pages of The Mirror, Felix Keith writes: "After a drab opening half-hour, the crowd were finally brought to their feet, but not by a chance. Simons was closing down Van Dijk when he trod on the Liverpool captain's calf. Having initially issued a yellow card, referee John Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor and the Dutchman's fate was sealed. "The Premier League Match Centre explained: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play. Referee announcement: 'After review, the Tottenham No.7, with studs, catches the Liverpool player [No.4] on the calf high - it's an act of serious foul play. My final decision is red card.' "Gary Neville's take on Sky Sports was slightly different in tone: 'Simons was never going to get there. He rakes his studs right down the back of Van Dijk's leg. That's not clever. That's not a good challenge. He is absolutely nowhere near the football. Malicious, nasty, reckless? Whatever you want to call it. Stupidity.'"

Jamie Braidwood, of The Independent, writes: "In a flash, the pieces finally clicked together. It took less than six seconds for Liverpool’s £300m trio to rip through Tottenham’s 10 men after Cristian Romero’s careless pass from defence. "Hugo Ekitike looked up and picked out Florian Wirtz, suddenly free in the space he has spent so much time trying to find. Wirtz took a touch and sensed the run immediately, producing the pass. And there was Alexander Isak, supplying the movement and the first-time finish, as well as the ruthlessness Liverpool wanted when they smashed their transfer record to sign him. "And then, like a window that closed as quickly as it had opened, a vision of Liverpool’s future disappeared. Isak, upon scoring just his second Premier League goal since his record £125m move from Newcastle, was clattered into by Micky van de Ven as the Tottenham defender attempted the block. The striker’s face revealed the immediate concern, as did the sight of Liverpool’s players cutting their celebrations short. "As soon as Isak had lift off, he was grounded again. On as a half-time substitute, he limped off 10 minutes later with an ankle injury that could sideline him for the foreseeable future."

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.”

Ian Doyle with the talking points after Liverpool earned a controversial Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening

Arne Slot prefaced this game with the revelation Florian Wirtz has been spending time bulking up his physique to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

Recent improved performances from the £116million man indicate the efforts are already bearing fruit, Wirtz becoming a more prominent proponent whether on the left or drifting into the centre of Liverpool’s attack.

One early challenge here to help dispossess Lucas Bergvall was an example of how actions are now matching his intentions regards holding his own in the heat of battle.

But bolstering the number of goal contributions is the ultimate aim for Wirtz, even if misfortune and the waywardness of team-mates have been as responsible as the player himself for the shortcoming.

Wirtz was Liverpool’s most effective attacker even before Tottenham were reduced to 10 men, his speed of passing injecting much-needed pace into the forward efforts with the Germany international closest before the break when his shot was parried by home goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Apt, then, that it was Wirtz who provided the assist for Alexander Isak’s opener after Cristian Romero had inadvertently blasted the ball against close friend Alexis Mac Allister.

That Wirtz was cramping up during the elongated additional time period underlined how he’d done more than most to ensure this victory.

Frimpong return timely

Recent events have brought into sharp focus the prospect of life without Mohamed Salah for Liverpool. But with the Egyptian now at the Africa Cup of Nations for the foreseeable future, this was the start of a period without the forward for which the Reds have long planned.

The signing of Jeremie Frimpong during the summer was very much with the possibility of the Dutchman replacing Salah in mind.

Two hamstring injuries meant Liverpool haven’t been able to properly assess that option. So Frimpong’s impressive cameo from the bench – his first appearance in more than two months – was as timely as it was impactful.

Introduced on the right wing as the Reds reshuffled again following Alexander Isak’s departure, Frimpong caught the eye with his pace and willingness to run at his marker and get the byline.

That approach ultimately paid off with the deflected cross that provided Hugo Ekitike’s winner, with the Holland international now likely to start at home to Wolves at the weekend with Dominik Szoboszlai suspended after picking up a fifth Premier League booking of the campaign and doubts again over the fitness of Conor Bradley, who was forced off at half-time.

After so long out, Liverpool will be mindful not to over-exert Frimpong. But with so few players available, Arne Slot may not have much choice.

Momentum continues

When Liverpool were last in these parts almost exactly a year ago for Premier League combat, victory in a nine-goal thriller copper-bottomed their title claims.

This latest visit, though, was instead about maintaining the momentum that has slowly been gathering during an unbeaten run that now stretches to six games.

After such a traumatic run of previous results, this run has primarily been about chiselling out results regardless of style. Pretty they may not have been of late, but the Reds have certainly been more effective.

Indeed, this clash was more akin to their infamous September 2023 clash when the furore over Luis Diaz’s non-goal overshadowed how an unconvincing Tottenham eventually needed a last-gasp own goal to finally defeat an opponent reduced to nine men.

While his side didn’t require such assistance going forward, Slot rightly later bemoaned the inability of his team to maintain possession during the frantic final 15 minutes having largely controlled matters before the introduction of chief wind-up merchant Richarlison.

This team remains very much a work in progress. Nevertheless, Liverpool are now back within touching distance of the top four.

Arne Slot reacts to Liverpool's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League

Arne Slot admits he is not satisfied with Liverpool's Premier League position - despite going level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

After a first-half red card for Xavi Simons, the Reds struck twice in the second period through Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike before Richarlison netted on 83 minutes to set up a grandstand finish that the champions were able to see out in North London.

The victory means the Reds are now unbeaten in six across all competitions and up to fifth in the table but Slot says Champions League qualification was not the sole aim for the campaign when it got underway in August.

OPINION

The Dutch coach, however, says he, the club's owners Fenway Sports Group and its executive team are accepting that the changes implemented over the summer would take time to yield results.

"No of course we are happy with that but when we started the season, it wasn't as though I was thrilled and completely happy with the top four," Slot said. "We are always aiming for the best possible and after the good start we had, we were disappointed with the run of results we had after it.

"I think you have said, we are now on equal points for the top four but we have done quite well in the Champions League with a difficult draw. I see a lot of teams that hardly have a point but we haven't faced them.

"So I think it has never been as bad as some people have said but it's also true that we are definitely not perfect yet. But we knew this when we made so many changes in the summer, it'd take time.

"Maybe because we won the first five or six games people thought it was just go so easily but as a club, ownership, Richard Hughes (sporting director), Michael Edwards (CEO of football), all the other people knew that change could also come with [fluctuations] different results and that has shown to be true."

Spurs were reduced to nine men when Cristian Romero was shown a second yellow for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate but Slot says the second dismissal only emboldened the hosts in the final moments as they chased an unlikely equaliser.

Slot added: "I thought [Romero's red] would mean it is a bit easier but in reality, it wasn't. Of course, they still had the free-kick and I know what a special player Pedro Porro is, he has shown that already with the corner he took which led to a goal.

"So I thought let's survive this free-kick and then, to be honest, I thought with nine men, we would be able to keep them away from our goal but it looked as though we were down to nine and they had 11, which led to attack, after attack, after attack. It didn't lead to a goal.

"The second one I haven't seen and I thought one of our players got a yellow. I was thinking: 'how can Ibou (Konate) get a yellow card for this?' But Ibou wasn't even on a yellow. But then I saw it was theirs, so I don't know why it happened. "With Xavi Simons, I don't think he had any intention to do it but if you see it back, where he touches him, from behind, studs, the height, calf, this time already a few times in games against us it hasn't led to a red card and this time it did. "I've seen these fouls are red cards and sometimes against us they haven't been. You are always relying on who is the VAR and which referee makes a decision."

Liverpool won a chaotic Premier League clash against Tottenham with Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons both sent off for the latter. Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were on target for Arne Slot's side, but it was a nervy end to the game after Richarlison pulled one back.

The champions ultimately held on for a huge three points to take them up to fifth in the table. The biggest talking point of the first half arrived when Simons was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk.

With Liverpool having the man advantage, Isak came on for Conor Bradley at half-time and scored 11 minutes after his introduction.

However, he could not celebrate only his third goal of the season as he suffered an injury courtesy of Micky van de Ven's attempted block. Ekitike then headed in Liverpool's second and though they could not keep back-to-back clean sheets as Richarlison scored a scruffy goal to half their advantage, Slot's side held on.

Arne Slot spoke about the injuries suffered by Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley in Liverpool's win at Tottenham

Arne Slot has admitted Liverpool face an anxious wait after seeing both Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley forced off in their 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The Swede came on at half-time in place of the Northern Irishman, who had initially tried to play on after suffering a knock following a coming-together with Djed Spence.

Isak would open the scoring for the Reds in the 56th minute, finishing well when running onto Florian Wirtz’s through-ball. But he was injured in the process following Micky van de Ven’s attempts to slide in and stop him running through on goal.

Receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch, Isak was in visible pain as he then limped off supported by two members of Liverpool’s medical team.

OPINION

Speaking after the final whistle, Slot admitted he feared that the striker could be set for a spell on the sidelines but was unable to offer a definitive update on either Isak or Bradley.

“I don’t have any news on him,” he conceded. “But if a player scores and then gets injured, and doesn’t come back on the pitch, doesn’t try to come back - which is what Conor Bradley tried to do for example but I had to take him off as well because he couldn’t go on.

“But if a player doesn’t even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing. But I cannot say anything more than that, it is just a gut feeling.

“Nothing medical to say about it. I haven’t spoken to him about it yet.

“It’s a good thing that he scored. That is what we would like to see happening a lot. Good finish, good pass. A good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz.

“I said last week already that players are getting better, our team is getting better. Wasn’t perfect today, especially not in the last 10 minutes but in the meantime we pick up points and I see the team developing in a way I want to see.

“Let’s not be too negative yet. We don’t know yet (how serious the injuries might be). Let’s hope he is back with us soon. Difficult to say to you now.”

Slot would at least play down fears about Jeremie Frimpong after the Netherlands international was also forced off in the win with a facial injury.

The wing-back made his return from a hamstring injury when replacing the injured Isak, and set up the would-be winning goal for Hugo Ekitike.

But he then had to be replaced in stoppage-time as Liverpool looked to see out the victory.

Slot revealed that Frimpong was fine though as he explained his decision to withdraw the defender, insisting it was purely based on trying to protect the result

“No, Jeremie is no problem at all,” he said. “I didn’t want to go down to 10 men for 40 seconds.

“I think this is the only country where, if players, they need to go off for 30 seconds. With a head injury, even 45. So I adapted to that.

“I knew there wasn’t long to play and I thought we struggled a lot with a plus one. So playing 10 vs 10 for half a minute with him being on the floor, yes or no? No, just go with Federico (Chiesa).

“So no problem with him. But with Alex and with Conor, we have to wait. You could see our bench today but this is not the first time. We are not the only team that suffers injuries in this period in England because we play so many games.

“It is quite normal that teams pick up injuries at this time. We’re still picking up points and that is the main thing.”

Liverpool verdict from Paul Gorst at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the Reds beat nine-man Spurs 2-1

For 83 minutes, anyone searching for proof that Liverpool had finally turned the corner on their season will have gathered plenty of evidence here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With Arne Slot's side in full control at 2-0, cruising to a sixth game unbeaten - and a third successive clean sheet - against the 10 men of Spurs, everything was pointing towards a largely stress-free day at the office.

A sloppy concession changed all of that, however, and despite offering very little in the final third prior to Richarlison's 83rd-minute effort, it was the hosts who suddenly looked the most likely to score again, even when they were given their second red card of the game for Cristian Romero.

OPINION

Quite why Liverpool struggle to see out two-goal advantages only Slot and his players will know but the dying embers here looked for all the world like it was about to happen for a fifth time this term across all competitions. The Reds’ ability to shoot themselves in the foot is unmatched in that regard.

“A masterclass in how not to manage the final 10 minutes,” remarked former captain Jamie Redknapp. This time, though, they held on by the skin of their teeth. Rarely has an important win like this felt like such scant progress.

Yet another first half devoid of any real goal-mouth activity from Slot's men saw its big talking point arrive shortly after the half-hour mark when Xavi Simons was sent off by referee John Brooks for an ugly rake down the Achilles of Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk.

Simons could have little argument after a VAR check, it was a late one that didn't need making and while his Netherlands international colleague Van Dijk attempted to make light of the challenge, a check with the monitor deemed it to be serious foul play.

The Reds were unable to make their numerical advantage count for the remainder of the half, however, with the system suddenly looking an attacker light and a midfielder or two heavy. Too often Hugo Ekitike was left without support, particularly from Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz, who were tucking into narrow positions in possession to congest the middle of the park.

Such a tactic requires the full-backs to stretch the pitch and neither Conor Bradley, off injured at half time, nor Milos Kerkez overly troubled Thomas Frank's backline during a first 45 minutes that saw the champions find it difficult to create. That goal after 46 seconds against Brighton remains their only first-half goal since November 1, when Mohamed Salah was gift-wrapped a tap-in in stoppage time against Aston Villa.

In an effort to give his team more attacking impetus, Slot sent on the costliest footballer in British history in Alexander Isak and if there was any fear as to how Liverpool are going to cope without an AFCON-bound Salah, the Reds, briefly at least, were able to field their most expensive frontline of all time in response to that predicament.

And while £125m Isak, £116m Wirtz and £79m Ekitike's time in the front three was short lived, it was enough to do the damage in spades when a clumsy clearance from Romero struck Alexis Mac Allister 10 minutes after the restart.

From there, Ekitike, Wirtz and Isak were all involved in a ruthless transition that saw the latter finish with aplomb with his final touch of the game. The Sweden international, who has now registered three for his new club, was caught by Micky van de Ven as he fired home and was forced off for a returning Jeremie Frimpong as a result.

In so many ways it is rotten luck on Isak, who, having dispatched so confidently, was immediately withdrawn as he hobbled off with the aid of the physios. He now faces an anxious wait on a fresh injury concern at a time when he should be using the confidence boost of the goal to carry him forward after a difficult few months at Anfield. Slot was unable to offer much of a post-match diagnosis.

Such was the peculiar nature of Isak's evening that he became just the second Reds player to be subbed on, score and be subbed off in the same game. He shares that unusual slice of history with Yossi Benayoun.

The award Isak picked up in his homeland this week that saw him crowned Sweden's 2025 player of the year was a reminder of his qualities as much as his short-and-sweet cameo was here. Present him with these sorts of opportunities more often and he will begin to pay back that astronomical transfer fee. A waiting game now ensues, though.

In Isak's absence, it was Ekitike who stepped up once more, scoring his fifth goal in three games with a header from Frimpong's deflected cross and it's been a superb fortnight or so for the France international, who is now on 11 for the campaign at Anfield.

But like Leeds United, two weeks ago, Liverpool decided that easing to an important away-day victory was too straightforward for their fans. Richarlison's goal instead set up a grandstand finale and even when the hosts were reduced to nine men, this time for Romero's foolish kick out on Ibrahima Konate, the Reds struggled to see it out without an almighty battle.

The sight of the nine men of Spurs pushing for an equaliser as the game entered its 100th minute would have been bewildering for Slot, who, despite the win, is now also sweating on the fitness of Wirtz, who pulled up making a late sprint. The hope is that this particular issue is cramp but he was promptly withdrawn for Trey Nyoni as all hands were placed on deck for the last knockings.

But after such a difficult period, perhaps it would be harsh to reflect too critically on what, ultimately, was three points on a day when Chelsea dropped two of their own at Newcastle United.

Now in fifth, the top four looks closer than it has for a number of weeks and five without defeat in the Premier League is setting up for Slot's side for a strong finish to 2025. Rock bottom Wolves have to be swept aside now after Christmas at Anfield. No ifs or buts for Slot, regardless of how his walking wounded shape up in the coming days.

Ian Doyle with the main talking point after Liverpool earned Premier League victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening

It should have been the moment that truly kickstarted Alexander Isak’s spluttering Liverpool career into life. Instead, the British record transfer signing now finds himself having to contend with another devastating setback since his £125million move from Newcastle United.

For a split second there was compelling evidence of exactly why the Reds had gone big in the summer window, Isak running on to an inviting pass from £116m arrival Florian Wirtz before slipping the ball beyond Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to finally break the resistance of the 10-man home team.

He’d only been on the pitch 11 minutes. But as Liverpool boss Arne Slot punched the air in delight on the touchline, concern was already being raised for the well-being of the stricken Isak, who remained prone on the turf in agony as his team-mates quickly realised all was not well.

OPINION

In the process of scoring, the forward had been wiped out by a dangerous sliding challenge from Micky van de Ven, Isak’s ankle caught between the legs of the Tottenham defender. Replays indicated it did not look good.

Sure enough, after a lengthy period of treatment, Isak was helped off the pitch before disappearing down the tunnel. While Liverpool are waiting for an official prognosis, the outlook looks gloomy. An extended spell on the sidelines awaits.

Isak would be the first to admit part of the responsibility for his difficult opening as a Reds player. But seemingly no amount of money can avoid the rank bad luck that has befallen the Sweden international this season.

Isak, again benched, had been introduced at half-time to help provide greater support for Hugo Ekitike, a forward partnership that has been seen only fleetingly but from which Liverpool have nevertheless gained some of their more impressive results this term.

Indeed, it was Ekitike who ultimately decided this contest midway through the second half, too strong for Cristian Romero when showing the desire to reach substitute Jeremie Frimpong’s deflected cross and head a looping effort in off the woodwork.

A fifth goal in his last three Premier League outings and an 11th of the season in all competitions, Ekitike is producing the numbers that may have been expected from Isak.

Now the junior partner will once again have to shoulder the burden as Slot, already shorn of Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, find his attacking options restricted further. Isak, though, surely now deserves a change of fortune.