Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had to intervene as Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal became embroiled in a heated exchange after the half-time whistle at Liverpool. With Spurs trailing 2-0, the two defenders argued vehemently as they headed for the tunnel, with Romero having to be physically pulled away by his Italian team-mate.
After being grabbed by the neck and restrained by the keeper, Romero still appeared seething as he left the field of play. Royal also continued to be incensed, shouting in the direction of the Argentinian even after the pair had been separated.
It followed a wretched 45 minutes from the visitors, who were fortunate to only be trailing 2-0. Left-back Royal had been given a torrid time from the off by Mo Salah, with the Egyptian twice going close before heading in unmarked after 16 minutes.
It got worse for Ange Postecoglou’s men before the break, Andy Robertson tapping home from close range. And a host of other chances also went begging for the Reds as Spurs headed for a fourth straight defeat.
The incident was discussed by the Sky Sports panel in the studio at half-time, with Roy Keane taking aim. “I don’t mind that kind of behaviour but they should have that aggression in their defending,” he said.
It didn’t get any better for Spurs or Romero and Royal after the break. Just five minutes after the restart the former was outjumped by Cody Gakpo as the Dutchman headed in to make it 3-0.
And then it was the Brazilian international who was again at fault, his weak header out leading to Harvey Elliott curling in a fourth goal on the hour mark. He was duly hauled off moments later, replaced by Oliver Skipp.
Although Richarlison did come off the bench to make it 4-1, Postecoglou could have done without his players quarrelling, as problems continued to mount amid his side’s poor form. Son Heung-Min later halved the deficit with just over 10 minutes to play. A place in the top four however is still all but mathematically beyond them, with the focus now set to turn to keeping hold of fifth place.
Newcastle trail them by four points with both sides having three games remaining. But Spurs notably still have to play Manchester City, a game which could yet be defining for rivals Arsenal in the title race.
