Mason says Jota 'shouldn’t have been on the pitch' before Liverpool-Tottenham goal

The Spurs caretaker boss demanded answers after a head-high challenge on Oliver Skipp didn’t see Diogo Jota get a straight red card.

After an incredible rally, Tottenham were moments away from a dramatic draw against Liverpool until Diogo Jota struck in the dying seconds of added time. The goal settled the game in a 4-3 defeat for Spurs.

Interim head coach Ryan Mason was incredulous that despite one particularly dangerous challenge which saw Jota escape with only a yellow card, the attacker stayed on the pitch and crucially scored what would become the match-winning goal.

“I would like an explanation and a reason why it wasn’t. I can understand referees on the pitch missing it,” he said.

“My feeling at the minute was an instant red card because when your foot is a five-and-a-half foot off the ground and makes contact and there is a gash, it ticks all the boxes.

“We want the VAR to help the official on the pitch at that moment, but an experienced referee and VAR haven’t given it.

“A player that shouldn’t be on the pitch decided the game. I felt like we didn’t get that decision, it was a big decision, a crucial decision and one you can’t really miss. I find it hard and impossible to really understand why.”