Tottenham player ratings vs Liverpool – Romero and Xavi madness but Richarlison and Spence shine

Here are our Tottenham player ratings from their defeat to Liverpool on Saturday night in the Premier League

Nine-man Tottenham lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday night and here are our Spurs player ratings from the match.

Spurs came into the game off the back of that 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest and they started the match in 14th place in the Premier League, having seemed to arrest their slump with a draw at two victories. In contrast, Liverpool came into the game off the back of an unbeaten run of five matches.

Frank made one change to the starting XI that began the loss at the City Ground as he took Richarlison out for Lucas Bergvall.

Spurs found themselves down to 10 men though just after the half hour mark when VAR told referee John Brooks to look again at his decision to hand Xavi Simons a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Virgil van Dijk and the man in black duly flourished the red card.

The hosts had the better chances in the first half with Randal Kolo Muani having a hat-trick of opportunities before hitting the crossbar with a deflected effort in the second period.

However, by that point Liverpool had taken the lead in the 56th minute when Cristian Romero’s pass struck the back of Alexis Mac Alister and ricocheted back towards the Spurs box. The ball was worked to Florian Wirtz, who played in Alexander Isak to fire home. The Swede took a big hit from Micky Van de Ven in doing so and departed the pitch with what looked like an ankle injury.

The visitors’ second followed 10 minutes later when Hugo Ekitike rose above Romero, with the aid of a push, to head in Jeremie Frimpong’s deflected looping cross.

Richarlison hit one back on 83 minutes when Joao. Palhinha’s scuffed shot from a corner bounced through to the Brazilian to fire into the bottom left corner.

Romero then completed his day to forget when he picked up a second yellow card and a red for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate during a tangle on the floor.

Here are our Tottenham player ratings:

Guglielmo Vicario

Saved well from Wirtz in the first half but couldn’t stop Isak or Ekitike’s strikes. Dealt well with most set pieces. 6

Pedro Porro

Put in a cross for Spence that led to a Kolo Muani chance. Worked hard down the right without rewards. 6

Cristian Romero

Played really well in the first half but gave the ball away for Liverpool’s first goal and was then beaten by Ekitike for the second, albeit while being shoved. Then picked up a needless red card as Spurs were pushing for an equaliser as he kicked out at Konate. 3

Micky van de Ven

Solid enough display with not to much coming for Liverpool from his areas. Almost blocked Isak’s shot and caught his ankle in the process. 7

Djed Spence

Made some surging runs down the left as the only real width down there and had a penalty shout towards the end of the first half. Unfortunate to deflect Frimpong’s cross up into the box. Spurs’ best starting player on the night. 8

Rodrigo Bentancur

An industrious display in the centre of the pitch as he tried to make up for the lost man. 7

Archie Gray

A fourth start in a row for the teenager and he worked hard before coming off. 6

Mohammed Kudus

Spurs’ main outlet before and after the red card in the first half but he slowed down their breaks in the second half and the fans cheered the change which brought on Johnson for him. 6

Xavi Simons

Had started the game busily before clumsily running into Van Dijk and catching his Achilles with his studs. His yellow card was overturned for a red after VAR told the referee to go to his monitor. There was no need to make the challenge in that area of the pitch. 3

Lucas Bergvall

Tried to use his energy to trouble Liverpool and caused the visitors problems. 7

Randal Kolo Muani

Had one early shot blocked and sent a header over not too long after before sending another effort at Alisson before the half hour mark. Had a deflected effort loop onto the crossbar in the second half. Got into some great positions but needed to score at least one. 6

Subs

Brennan Johnson

Brought more zip to Spurs’ breaks. Was involved in the goal and sent Richarlison away for a chance soon after. 6

Joao Palhinha

Involved in the goal with his scuffed shot falling to Richarlison to tuck home. 6

Wilson Odobert

A couple of late crosses but needed to get at the Liverpool defence more. 5

Richarlison

His eight goal of the season as he swept the ball home and had another blocked soon after. Was the game changer for Spurs despite their numerical disadvantage along with the proactive Johnson. 8