'Micky van de Ven would've seen red if VAR had seen this image in Tottenham loss vs Liverpool'

Tue 23 December 2025 17:10, UK Micky van de Ven is coming under scrutiny after Tottenham's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday evening. Xavi Simons was given a first-half red card, before Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike put Arne Slot's side into a two-goal lead. Richarlison then pulled one back for Tottenham, but they were unable to find an equaliser and were reduced to nine men as Cristian Romero was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time. Now, new photos have emerged, and it seems that Van de Ven could have also been dismissed against Liverpool. Isak opened the scoring early in the second half, latching onto Florian Wirtz's pass and finishing left-footed past Guglielmo Vicario. However, just as the ball left the former Newcastle United man's boot, Van de Ven came steaming in, taking his legs away from him. As a result of the challenge, Isak was stretchered off, and he will now miss a number of months after undergoing surgery for a broken leg. A photo of the incident has now emerged on social media, and former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes the new footage has changed the perception of Van de Ven's challenge. Hackett exclusively told Tottenham News: 'This still photograph puts a different slant on this challenge, given the exposure of a scissor challenge. 'This was not really picked up with this level of clarity from video clips. If this were available to VAR then there would have been an intervention and a sanction issued.' With Tottenham already down to 10 men and chasing an equaliser in the closing stages against Liverpool, Romero was shown a second yellow card for a scuffle with Ibrahima Konate. The Argentinian international will now miss the visit to Crystal Palace on 28 December, hugely weakening the Spurs defence.