Overview
- Referee John Brooks upgraded an initial yellow to a straight red after a VAR review found Simons’ studs caught Virgil van Dijk high on the calf, with the decision recorded as serious foul play.
- Liverpool won 2-1 in north London, and Tottenham later had captain Cristian Romero dismissed for a second yellow, finishing with nine players.
- The dismissal carries a reported three-match suspension that is set to rule Simons out against Crystal Palace, Brentford and Sunderland.
- Simons apologised on social media, calling the tackle a mistake and saying he would never intentionally hurt Van Dijk, who said they spoke privately and that he did not believe there was intent to injure.
- Pundits Jamie Redknapp and Daniel Sturridge criticised the challenge as deserving a red despite no malice, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank said he did not like it as a red, and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett said Brooks should have shown red without needing VAR.