Alexander Isak scores but is injured after a challenge from Micky van de VenGetty Images
At a glance
Tottenham's Xavi Simons sent off for serious foul play in first half
Alexander Isak comes off bench to break deadlock but injured while scoring
Hugo Ekitike doubles Liverpool's lead with looping header
Spurs substitute Richarlison pulls one back to set up tense finish
Cristian Romero sent off in injury time as Liverpool hold on
PLAYER RATER
Aadam Patel
Football reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Alexander Isak came off the bench to score for Liverpool but then went off injured as Arne Slot's side beat nine-man Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Isak broke the deadlock in the 56th minute but was injured in the act of scoring, before Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool's lead 10 minutes later.
Richarlison came off the bench to pull a goal back for Spurs but the visitors held on to inflict further pain on Thomas Frank, whose side had Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off and have now won just one of their past eight league games.
After a cagey start, Simons was sent off for a foul on Virgil van Dijk in the 33rd minute following a VAR review.
Referee John Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor and ruled it was "serious foul play" after Simons raked his studs down the calf of Van Dijk - his captain for the Netherlands.
With the game there for the taking, Slot sent Isak on at half-time after Conor Bradley suffered a knock - and the £125m British record signing finished coolly past Guglielmo Vicario after being fed by Florian Wirtz for his first Premier League assist.
However, as Isak got his shot away he was floored by Micky van de Ven and was unable to celebrate his goal.
The Sweden forward looked in serious pain and he was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong just 15 minutes after coming on.
Spurs came close to equalising when Randal Kolo Muani's deflected effort hit the bar, but Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.
Frimpong's deflected cross was met by France forward Ekitike, who headed in his fifth goal in his past three league games.
Spurs were furious that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming Ekitike had fouled Romero - with the Tottenham captain subsequently booked for his protests.
Frank introduced Richarlison for Kolo Muani in the 80th minute and three minutes later, the Brazil attacker was on hand to finish past Alisson in a crowded penalty box after Liverpool failed to clear their lines.
The visitors looked nervy as 10-man Tottenham hunted for an equaliser late on, but the hosts had another player sent off when Romero was given a second yellow card in injury time for lashing out at Ibrahima Konate after Spurs won a free-kick.
Liverpool managed to hold on for a victory which moves them up to fifth in the league - and they are now unbeaten in their past six after a run of nine defeats in 12.
More to follow.
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Liverpool analysis: Win comes at a cost for Slot
With Mohamed Salah away on Africa Cup of Nations duty and Cody Gakpo injured, Arne Slot resisted the urge to start Ekitike and Isak up front together.
But when Bradley suffered a knock just before the break, Slot sent on Isak for the second half and was quickly rewarded, although the former Newcastle forward now looks like he is set for a spell on the sidelines.
Slot was ecstatic on the touchline after the opening goal, as his two biggest summer signings combined, with Wirtz providing the assist - but that joy was short-lived after the challenge by Van de Ven left Isak unable to carry on.
Ekitike then showed again why he is such a threat with a delightful header for his ninth league goal of the season - and Liverpool can take some comfort from the fact the Frenchman continues to deliver, in the absence of other attacking options.
In the end, this was a big win for Liverpool which moved them level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
However, it remains to be seen at what cost they earned the victory - with Frimpong, who has just returned from a spell out injured, also forced off in stoppage time having come on to replace Isak.
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10 Pure perfection
Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool
Starting XI
1G. Vicario
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24D. Spence
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37M. van de Ven
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17C. Romero
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23Pedro Porro
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14A. Gray
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30R. Bentancur
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15L. Bergvall
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20M. Kudus
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39R. Kolo Muani
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7X. Simons
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22B. Johnson
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6João Palhinha
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28W. Odobert
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9Richarlison
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Starting XI
1Alisson Becker
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6M. Kerkez
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4V. van Dijk
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5I. Konaté
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12C. Bradley
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17C. Jones
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38R. Gravenberch
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7F. Wirtz
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10A. Mac Allister
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8D. Szoboszlai
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22H. Ekitiké
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14F. Chiesa
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30J. Frimpong
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9A. Isak
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42T. Nyoni
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26A. Robertson
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