REASON LIVERPOOL’S SECOND GOAL AGAINST TOTTENHAM WAS ALLOWED TO STAND REVEALED AFTER CLEAR FOUL ON ROMERO

Last night’s blockbuster at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ended in chaos, heartbreak and controversy — and now fresh footage suggests there was a shocking error behind the decision to let Liverpool FC’s second strike count. Fans and pundits are livid: the goal stood, although many believe there was a clear foul on Tottenham defender Cristian Romero during the build-up.
⚡ The Match and the Incident
From early on, the match turned sour for Spurs. In the 33rd minute, midfielder Xavi Simons was shown a red card after a studs-up challenge on Virgil van Dijk — upgraded from an initial yellow following a VAR pitch-side review. That dismissal immediately swung momentum in Liverpool’s favour. �
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But despite being a man down, Spurs held firm — until the second half. In the 56th minute, substitute Alexander Isak broke the deadlock for Liverpool, and though he would later come off injured, the Reds sensed blood. Then came the moment that has ignited fury: around the 66th minute, Hugo Ekitike met a looped cross from Jeremie Frimpong and headed powerfully past Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario — double the lead for Liverpool. �
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On initial view, the goal looked legitimate. But replays show Ekitike leaping over Romero — some argue “on top of” him — raising serious doubts about whether the contact constituted a foul. Many analysts say Romero was impeded, making the charging and jumping of Ekitike a clear foul under football’s physical-play laws. Spurs players protested immediately — but the referee let the goal stand. �
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🧠 Why the Goal Was Allowed — And Why Fans Are Furious
According to post-match reports, the decision stood because officials judged that there was “no clear and obvious error” in awarding the goal. In other words, the on-field referee (and VAR) decided that whatever contact occurred was insufficient to be penalised. �
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Supporters and commentators strongly disagree. Here’s why:
Leaping advantage + physical contact: Ekitike clearly soared above Romero and made contact during the jump — many argue that Romero’s position was compromised, which ordinarily should nullify the goal.
Timing of protests: Spurs players, including Romero himself, appealed immediately — suggesting they believed the foul was blatant.
Match context — a red-carded side given the benefit: After being reduced to 10 men and struggling, Spurs were vulnerable. Letting a contentious header count swung the match decisively in Liverpool’s favour.
In post-match commentary, even some neutrals called the decision “lucky” and claimed the goal should have been disallowed. “He out-jumped him, put his body on top — that’s a foul,” said one former pro on air. Fans took to social media in droves: “How is this allowed? It’s robbery,” read one viral post. Another fan wrote:
“Romero gets buried in the jump — clear foul. VAR just looked the other way.” �
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🔥 The Fallout: Fury, Accusations and a Crisis of Confidence
The decision has reopened a gaping wound in the debate over consistency in officiating. To many onlookers, this was more than a marginal call — it felt like institutional bias, or at the very least poor judgment. Tottenham’s manager Thomas Frank didn’t hide his frustration post-match. He slammed the refereeing as harsh and claimed the second goal “should never have stood.” �
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Meanwhile, some Liverpool fans defended the decision — arguing Ekitike won the aerial battle fairly, even if contact occurred. “He judged the cross, I judged the jump,” Ekitike said afterward. �
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But the wider sentiment among neutrals and Tottenham supporters leans strongly toward scandal. On fan forums, angry threads declare the match as “rigged”, “VAR-baited”, or even a “theft of three points.” �
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For Spurs, this feels like more than a defeat — it’s a blow to credibility. Their hopes of climbing back toward stability under Frank, already fragile after repeated home losses, have taken another hit. The club now faces internal unrest and pressure from supporters demanding explanations — not just for the second-goal decision, but for what many see as a pattern of officiating neglect in big games.
📊 Could This Decision Change the Course of the Season?
Watching it calmly, the importance of that 2-0 strike becomes all too clear. With Liverpool now five points clear of Spurs and rising in the table, one controversial goal could have real implications on final standings — and potentially on European qualification spots.
For Tottenham:
The loss deepens what is now their 11th home league defeat of 2025, a new club record for a calendar year. �
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Confidence has taken a hit. Losing while reduced to nine men — after a contentious goal — will damage morale and fan faith.
Officiating trust is eroding rapidly. Many supporters may look at future fixtures through a cynical lens: “Will we ever get a fair call?”
For Liverpool:
The win boosts their league position and momentum.
But the way the second goal came may taint the victory in the eyes of many. Still, points are points — and in the Premier League, margins are thin.
🧭 Final Word: A Goal — And a Statement That May Haunt Spurs for Months
When they awarded the header, the officials may have technically found “enough” reason to allow it — but perception matters in football, perhaps more than rules. That moment of contact, that foul on Romero — and the decision to ignore it — now stands as a flashpoint.
For Spurs fans, the anger is real, justified, and likely to simmer. The club and its management must now decide whether to call for a formal review — not just of the decision, but of officiating standards. Without restorative action, this will be seen as a glaring indictment of inconsistency.
In sport, trust is fragile. One dubious call may be forgotten, but a pattern becomes a prejudice.
If you ask me — and if you ask many fans — that second goal was never just a goal. It was a statement: that when the chips are down, even the rules can be bent.