Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has launched a pointed criticism of referee John Brooks after his side’s chaotic 2-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool, arguing captain Cristian Romero would not have been sent off if the official “did his job” properly.
The contest swung repeatedly on major decisions, including a first-half dismissal following a VAR review and a late second yellow card for Romero as Spurs pushed desperately for an equaliser. While Liverpool held on, the aftermath has quickly shifted attention to officiating standards, Tottenham’s discipline, and the pressure building on Frank’s early months in charge.
Frank: “A massive mistake” set the tone
Frank’s main grievance centred on the sequence around Liverpool’s second goal, which he believes should have been disallowed for a push on Romero during an aerial challenge. Romero, furious at the decision, was booked for dissent—his first yellow of the match. Later, he was shown a second yellow for kicking out at Ibrahima Konaté in stoppage time.
“There is a massive mistake by John [Brooks] on the pitch,” Frank said, describing what he saw as “two hands on the back” from Hugo Ekitiké on Romero. Frank added that if the referee had correctly penalised the incident, Romero would not have been booked for dissent—reducing the likelihood of the late red card that left Spurs with nine men.
Frank also referenced the safety net of video review, suggesting that while VAR exists to correct errors, it did not intervene in the way he expected on the goal incident.
Premier League match centre backs the on-field call
In a statement posted online, the Premier League match centre said the decision to award the goal was checked and confirmed by VAR, with officials deeming there was “normal contact for an aerial challenge” between Ekitiké and Romero.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, speaking on Match of the Day, also sided with the referee, saying Brooks “has got it right.”
Key flashpoints: VAR dismissal and Romero’s second yellow
Tottenham’s evening became even more complicated earlier in the match when they were reduced to 10 men after a VAR intervention led to the dismissal of Xavi Simons for a foul on Virgil van Dijk. The decision altered the game’s rhythm and forced Spurs into a more reactive shape against a Liverpool side comfortable in transition.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Tottenham stayed in the contest and found a late route back through substitute Richarlison, setting up a frantic finish. With Spurs pressing hard in stoppage time, Romero’s second booking—given for kicking out at Konaté—ended their comeback attempt and left the home side with nine players.
Discipline and leadership: Romero’s captaincy under scrutiny
Beyond the officiating debate, the match reignited questions about Romero’s temperament and suitability as Tottenham’s on-field leader. The Argentine was appointed captain by Frank in the summer following the departure of Son Heung-min to Los Angeles FC, a decision that has been closely watched given Romero’s disciplinary record.
In 114 Premier League appearances, Romero has collected 34 yellow cards and three red cards. Tottenham, alongside Bournemouth, have the most yellow cards in the division this season with 42—an indicator of the fine margins Spurs are regularly playing on.
Romero’s personal share is also notable: nine of Tottenham’s 42 yellows have gone to him, meaning more than one in five of the club’s bookings have been attributed to their captain.
Redknapp: “What Romero did is what Romero does”
Former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was particularly critical of Romero’s decision-making, arguing that even if Spurs felt aggrieved by the second goal, the defender’s reaction created consequences that hurt the team later.
Redknapp said he believed the goal incident should have been given as a foul, but added that Romero’s dissent—and then the late kick-out—were self-inflicted wounds. He described the second yellow as “ridiculous,” pointing out that the incident occurred directly in front of the referee.
Romero’s history also adds context: he was previously sent off in a match where Spurs were reduced to nine men, against Chelsea in 2023, reinforcing a pattern that opponents and officials may now anticipate.
What the result means for Tottenham and Frank
While Spurs took encouragement from their late surge and the atmosphere of a near-comeback, the defeat leaves Tottenham 13th in the table and adds to an uncomfortable home record. Tottenham’s 11 home league defeats in 2025 are their most in a calendar year, and five of those have come under Frank since he replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer.
That combination—mid-table positioning, a worsening home trend, and recurring discipline issues—will intensify scrutiny over Frank’s early tenure, even as he argues that his team showed resilience and belief against the league’s reigning champions.
For Liverpool, the victory was another test of composure: they survived a hostile finish, managed the chaos, and benefited from Tottenham’s late loss of control. For Tottenham, the post-match conversation is likely to remain split between frustration at decisions and frustration at the actions that made those decisions decisive.