Premier League: Isak, Ekitike Net As Liverpool Down Nine-Man Spurs

Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, top, scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham and Liverpool in London, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Liverpool survived a nervy finale to beat nine-man Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday in the Premier League encounter between the sides as Arne Slot and Co. extended their unbeaten run to six games to inflict a miserable Christmas on Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

Second half strikes form Alexader Isak and Hugo Ekitike rendered a late Richarlison goal a mere consolation after Xavi Simons saw red early, while Cristian Romera was sent off in additional time.

Simons’ dangerous lunge on Dutch international team-mate Virgil van Dijk at the 33-minute mark left the home side with a daunting challenge.

Despite Mohamed Salah’s absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations,  Isak again began the match on the bench before Slot introduced the Premier League’s most expensive player of all time at halftime.

The Swede scored only his third goal since joining Liverpool for £125 million in September, but suffered another injury setback and had to be substituted.

Hugo Ekitike headed in his fifth goal in three league games to double Liverpool’s lead. However, Slot’s men faltered in the closing stages after Richarlison pulled a goal back.

“In football, you always remember the last few minutes, and they were the worst minutes of our entire game,” said Slot. “It became very chaotic and hectic.”

A fifth defeat in nine home league games this season increased the pressure on Frank, and his situation was worsened by his captain, Cristian Romero, who was needlessly sent off in stoppage time.

Liverpool climbed to fifth, while Spurs remained in 13th place.

Chelsea remained above Liverpool in fourth on goal difference, as a second-half comeback saved manager Enzo Maresca from further speculation about his future.

After last weekend’s win over Everton, Maresca claimed that he and his players had not received enough support during a difficult run of results. He was also recently linked with being Guardiola’s successor at City.

Chelsea have won only once in their last five league games, diminishing their title ambitions.

However, things could have been worse for Maresca as Nick Woltemade’s double put Newcastle 2-0 up in a dominant first half for the Magpies.

A brilliant Reece James free-kick brought the Blues back into the game before Joao Pedro capitalised on an error by Malick Thiaw to equalise.

Wolves remain winless in the league this season and are on course to enter the record books as the worst side in Premier League history after a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford.

Burnley ended their seven-game losing streak as Armando Broja’s 90th-minute goal secured a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. Leeds moved six points clear of the bottom three as Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.