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Xavi Simons was dismissed during Tottenham's encounter with Liverpool this evening following a dangerous tackle on Virgil van Dijk, as the Premier League made a statement.

The Dutch midfielder initially received a caution from referee John Brooks after catching his compatriot on the back of the leg during a largely uneventful first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, officials at Stockley Park intervened, directing Brooks to examine the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Upon reviewing the footage, which revealed Simons had connected with Van Dijk's calf using raised studs, the referee upgraded his decision to a straight red card.

"It is a ridiculous challenge, considering he was never going to get there," the former Manchester United defender remarked.

"He is absolutely nowhere near that football. He is going to get a red card."

The Premier League Match Centre swiftly confirmed the decision via social media, stating: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play."

Neville elaborated further on the potential consequences of such reckless play, noting: "Virgil van Dijk is six foot four and 15 stone. If it is the other way around, it's a leg breaker."

Tellingly, none of the Spurs players contested the decision once they had witnessed the replays.

Neville observed that his former colleagues were left questioning their teammate's judgement, with their expressions asking: "What are you doing?"

The dismissal carries a mandatory three-match suspension for serious foul play, ruling Simons out of Tottenham's festive fixtures.

The Netherlands international will be absent for the short trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, followed by the visit to Brentford before the new year.

His ban extends into 2026, with the home fixture against Sunderland also affected.

The sending-off represents another setback in what has been a disappointing start to Simons' Tottenham career.

Gary Lineker and comedian Michael McIntyre discovered Tottenham Hotspur’s north London derby humiliation in a manner arguably more painful than watching the defeat unfold live, after being shut away from all match coverage as part of a new Sky Sports concept.

Spurs were thrashed 4–1 by Arsenal at the Emirates as Eberechi Eze scored a devastating hat-trick, but Lineker and McIntyre were left to learn the result only after the final whistle in a controlled reveal that captured their shock and dismay.

Arsenal surged six points clear at the Premier League summit following a commanding 4-1 triumph against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Gunners capitalised on defeats for both Manchester City and Liverpool on Saturday to strengthen their position as title favourites with an emphatic North London derby victory.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing a royalties dispute over their popular pre-match anthem, with one of the writers of Barry Manilow’s hit song Can’t Smile Without You claiming the club have failed to engage with him over payment.

The track, recorded by Manilow in the 1970s, has become a familiar feature at Spurs home fixtures, where supporters regularly sing along as it plays around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joe Lewis, the billionaire who once controlled Tottenham Hotspur, is expected to receive an official pardon from United States President Donald Trump, bringing an extraordinary close to the legal saga that saw him plead guilty to insider trading.

The 88-year-old, who transferred his ownership of Spurs to the Lewis Family Trust in 2022, was fined £4million earlier this year but avoided prison after a judge accepted appeals for leniency based on his age, health and early admission of guilt.

Jack Fletcher, the son of former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, has been named in the squad to London for Saturday afternoon’s match against Tottenham Hotspur.

The 18-year-old is yet to make his senior debut, but his inclusion in the matchday squad comes amid Kobbie Mainoo’s absence through injury.

Damaging footage has captured the moment two Tottenham defenders completely ignored their manager following Saturday's crushing defeat to Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence marched directly past Thomas Frank after the final whistle, refusing to acknowledge their boss despite his attempts at communication.

Chelsea emerged victorious from their north London visit on Saturday evening, defeating Tottenham Hotspur by a solitary goal in a fiercely contested Premier League encounter.

The Brazilian forward Joao Pedro proved the match-winner, netting his first goal since late August to secure three crucial points for Enzo Maresca's side.

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman has ended his professional football career at just 26 years old, choosing instead to embark on a new path in photography and film direction.

The decision comes mere months after he secured a Europa League winner's medal with Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur have just received a massive financial boost, with the Lewis family trust pumping £100million into the club through their investment vehicle ENIC.

The fresh capital injection is designed to bolster the north London club's finances and give their leadership team more resources that, in theory, correlates to success on the pitch.