Liverpool’s hard-fought win over Tottenham Hotspur may have been filled with tension, controversy and drama, but one of the classiest moments came after the final whistle.
Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike took time to acknowledge the Tottenham supporters, offering warm words that stood out amid the noise surrounding the match. Speaking after the game, Ekitike made it clear just how much the atmosphere inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium affected the contest.
He described the Spurs fans as “unbelievable,” praising the way they drove their team forward and made life difficult for Liverpool throughout the match.
According to Ekitike, every time Tottenham gained momentum or found the net, the energy from the stands lifted the players and turned the game into a real battle. He admitted it was extremely physical and intense, calling the contest a “war,” and stressed that Liverpool also leaned heavily on their own supporters to get through it.
Despite the pressure, he said his side managed to come out on top, but not without feeling the full force of the home crowd.
Those comments will be appreciated by Tottenham fans, especially in a season where results have often failed to match their passion. Spurs have struggled badly at home in the Premier League this campaign, dropping points far too often in games where they expected to be strong.
That said, there have been small signs of improvement. A solid 2-0 victory over Brentford a couple of weeks earlier showed what is possible when confidence and intensity come together at the stadium.
Against Liverpool, Tottenham again showed glimpses of what they can be, even though the final result went against them. Reduced to nine men and facing one of the league’s most in-form sides, Spurs were still within touching distance of a positive result.
That alone suggests the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium still has the potential to become a true fortress, but only if performances start to match the noise from the stands. The supporters are clearly doing their part. Now the challenge is for the team and coaching staff to build on that foundation.
After the match, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank spoke with pride about his players, focusing on their effort, resilience and mentality. He felt his side handled adversity well and continued to fight despite multiple setbacks.
However, his praise for the players was matched by sharp criticism of the officiating, particularly VAR, which he believes played a major role in the outcome.
Frank expressed frustration over several decisions, starting with the first red card, which he felt was harsh and damaging to the flow of the game. In his view, the tackle did not meet the threshold for serious foul play, especially as the on-field decision was initially a yellow card.
He argued that moments like that change games and make it harder for teams to compete.
He also pointed to Liverpool’s goal, suggesting there was a clear push in the build-up that should have been flagged. Frank accepted that referees are human and mistakes happen, but he was disappointed that VAR did not intervene to correct what he saw as obvious errors.
For him, that lack of intervention was the most frustrating part, as VAR exists to step in during moments like those.
Even after going down to nine men, Frank felt his players showed character. They stayed organised, kept fighting and even pulled a goal back to make it 2-1, giving themselves hope late on.
He also questioned Cristian Romero’s second yellow card, arguing that the referee failed to read the mood of the game and the physical nature of the duel.
While Frank’s passion is understandable, there is also a growing feeling that simply praising effort and blaming officials is not enough. Tottenham’s problems run deeper than one match or one set of decisions.
Individual mistakes, lapses in concentration and a lack of creativity in key moments continue to hurt them. Players like Xavi Simons were always walking a fine line with their challenges, and some of the incidents Frank highlighted were far from clear-cut.
In the end, this was another match where Spurs showed heart but lacked control and composure when it mattered most. The fans once again played their part and earned respect from the opposition, as Ekitike’s words showed.
Now the pressure is firmly on Frank and his squad to turn those strong home atmospheres into consistent results. If that does not happen soon, pride and excuses will no longer be enough to quiet the growing frustration around the club.
