Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville delivered a scathing assessment of Xavi Simons after the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
A Reckless Challenge and Swift VAR Intervention
The incident occurred just after the half-hour mark in the Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 20 December 2025. Simons, chasing a loose ball, lunged at Van Dijk from behind, raking his studs down the back of the defender's calf without making contact with the ball.
Referee John Brooks initially showed the 22-year-old a yellow card, but was quickly advised by the Video Assistant Referee to review the decision at the pitch-side monitor. After seeing the replay, Brooks upgraded the caution to a straight red card for serious foul play, sending Simons for an early bath.
Neville's Furious On-Air Reaction
Co-commentating for Sky Sports, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville did not hold back in his criticism of the Dutch midfielder's actions. "Simons was never going to get there," Neville stated. "He rakes his studs right down the back of Van Dijk's leg. That's not clever. That's not a good challenge."
Neville emphasised the potential severity of the tackle, pointing to Van Dijk's physical stature. "Virgil van Dijk is six foot four and 15 stone. If it is the other way around, it's a leg breaker," he argued. The pundit described the challenge as "malicious, nasty, reckless" and ultimately an act of "stupidity".
He also noted that the lack of protest from Simons' Tottenham teammates spoke volumes about the nature of the foul. "None of the Tottenham players are complaining. The ones who have seen it are going 'what are you doing?'"
Struggles for a Big-Money Signing
The red card caps a difficult start to life in North London for Xavi Simons, who joined Spurs from RB Leipzig in the summer for a fee of £52 million. The highly-rated youngster has managed just one goal and two assists in the Premier League this season, failing to live up to his price tag.
Neville suggested the rash challenge was a symptom of a player struggling for form and confidence. "That’s a player that’s struggling. Struggling with his form, struggling mentally," he analysed. "He’s just tried to involve himself in the game by somehow trying to put a bit of fight into it, a bit of muscle into it, but that’s not the way to do it."
The decision leaves Tottenham manager Thomas Frank with a selection headache, as Simons will now serve a suspension, adding to the club's challenges in a tightly-contested Premier League season.
