VAR And Red Card Controversies In Tottenham Vs Liverpool Premier League Match

In an action-packed encounter, a 2-1 victory was secured by Tottenham against a nine-man Liverpool team, with Joel Matip inadvertently deflecting the ball into his own net in the dying moments, sealing the Reds’ fate after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were both shown red cards.

Liverpool’s undefeated start to the Premier League season came to a halt, with controversy surrounding several decisions made by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) throughout the match. Ange Postecoglou’s side extended their unbeaten streak in a dramatic clash in north London.

Jones was sent off in the first half after VAR intervention led to his yellow card being upgraded to a red. Tottenham took the lead through Son Heung-min’s strike, but Liverpool fought back with Cody Gakpo’s equalizer just before halftime.

Liverpool’s fortunes took a further hit when Jota was shown a red card early in the second half. However, controversy continued to swirl around VAR decisions, particularly a disallowed goal by Luis Diaz, which was deemed offside despite contentious video replays.

It seemed Liverpool would manage to hold on for a draw despite being at a numerical disadvantage, but Matip’s unfortunate own-goal in the final moments shattered their hopes.

This victory marked a rare success for Tottenham against Liverpool, their first win against the Reds since 2017 when they were using Wembley Stadium as their temporary home.

For Postecoglou, this victory held special significance, as he had grown up idolizing legendary Liverpool boss Bill Shankly during his childhood as a fan of Liverpool’s great teams from the 1970s.

The former Celtic manager has done an impressive job in revitalizing Tottenham, turning things around after a disappointing campaign under his predecessor, Antonio Conte.

Jamie Redknapp commented on Postecoglou’s impact, stating, “It’s been a masterclass in management – man management, how to handle the media, and more. He’s become a darling, and it’s well-deserved because he has transformed Tottenham.”

While it may be too early to label Tottenham as title contenders, they have already defeated Liverpool and Manchester United and held Arsenal to a draw, showcasing Postecoglou’s significant influence.

The turning point in the match occurred in the 26th minute when Jones was shown a red card after VAR intervention. Liverpool had a close call when Luis Diaz’s goal was disallowed due to an offside flag and VAR’s decision to not intervene.

The refereeing body PGMOL issued a statement acknowledging that Diaz’s goal should have been allowed and admitting to a significant human error in the match, raising questions about VAR’s role in the game.

“PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool.”

The PGMOL statement on the Luis Diaz disallowed goal. 👇 pic.twitter.com/qC2C0jMsXD

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2023

Jurgen Klopp expressed frustration with the officials’ decisions, particularly the offside call on Diaz’s goal and VAR’s intervention in Jones’ red card.

Tottenham capitalized on their fortunate escape and took the lead in the 36th minute when Son Heung-min expertly flicked the ball into the net from a cross by Richarlison.

Gakpo equalized for Liverpool in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on a header from Virgil van Dijk.

In the second half, Tottenham continued to press, with James Maddison and Son testing Alisson with their shots.

Jota was brought on as a substitute at halftime but was sent off after just 69 minutes for a sliding challenge on Destiny Udogie, shortly after receiving a yellow card for another foul on the same player.

Despite Liverpool’s determined defense and VAR controversy, Tottenham continued to push forward, and Matip’s own-goal in stoppage time secured the dramatic victory for the home team.