Tottenham secured a late draw against Liverpool.
Tottenham Hotspur managed to equalize at Anfield Stadium as Richarlison scored late in the match, earning them a vital point. However, one player might have been lucky to avoid a booking for his actions during the second half.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett stated that Tottenham’s defender Souza, a January signing, should have been cautioned for a gesture made to referee Chris Kavanagh.
Was Souza deserving of a booking?
In the early stages of the second half, Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha fell in the Tottenham penalty area following a challenge from Souza. Referee Kavanagh decided not to call for a penalty, stating that the contact wasn’t sufficient.
Many Tottenham players believed that Ngumoha went down easily, including Souza, who indicated his frustration by pretending to show the referee a yellow card, suggesting Ngumoha should be booked.
According to Premier League guidelines, any player who requests a booking for an opponent should themselves receive a caution. Hackett emphasized that Souza was fortunate not to be punished for his gesture.
In an interview with Tottenham News after the match, Hackett commented:
“Ngumoha did go down, but he was moving quickly before he fell.
“This was a natural fall, not an act to deceive the referee. The referee made the right call.
“However, if the ref had seen Souza’s gesture, he should have issued a yellow card.”
It’s possible that referee Kavanagh simply missed Souza’s action.
Tottenham took home a point from L4
Tottenham returned to London with a well-deserved point.
Liverpool took the lead with a free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai in the first half but could not extend their advantage. Tottenham kept pressing for an equalizer and finally scored in the 90th minute when Richarlison found the net after a long ball that was assisted by Kolo Muani.
Although Tottenham remains without a league win in 2026, head coach Igor Tudor has faced five matches since taking over from Thomas Frank without a victory. Nonetheless, this performance at L4 offers hope for the team as they approach the end of the season.
Tottenham displayed better organization in defense and a compact midfield, creating several chances. Richarlison consistently posed a threat to Liverpool’s goal before ultimately scoring.