Guglielmo Vicario grabs Cristian Romero to break up confrontation between Tottenham players
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was forced to break up a spat between two teammates as the club's season continued to crumble.
The Spurs keeper raced to break up a clash between Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal with his side losing 2-0 to Liverpool, a match they went on to lose 4-2.
Ange Postecoglou's men started brightly at Anfield, but old problems reared their head when Mohamed Salah headed home the opener.
The Egyptian ghosted in behind an unaware Royal to open the scoring, with Andy Robertson doubling the lead just before halftime.
It was Emerson's mistake again in playing the Reds defender onside that allowed the Scotland captain to tap home after Vicario had parried Salah's close-range effort.
When the whistle went for half-time, Romero remonstrated angrily with the Brazilian as the pair headed to the tunnel.
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It appeared to be just words but the two defenders came closer and closer together as Micky van de Ven watched on concerned.
However, before the matter could escalate, goalkeeper Vicario came to the rescue by charging forward to drag Argentine Romero away.
The Italian wrapped a huge arm around his centre-back's neck before patting him on the chest as he allowed him to steer him off the pitch.
Roy Keane told Sky Sports: "I generally don't mind that kind of behaviour because it means you care about the game but they should have that type of aggression in their defending and in their play.
"Spurs have been poor - I don't mind that but you've got to bring that aggression to your general play which we've not seen from Spurs."
On Emerson's overall play, Keane added: "[He] just doesn't smell danger wherever he plays.
"Spurs have been very poor. There's been no conviction. There's been no intensity."
"Liverpool have been comfortable. It's a deserved lead."
Tottenham's meltdown continued five minutes after the restart as Cody Gakpo rose above Romero to power home Liverpool's third.
Harvey Elliott then curled home a delightful fourth before the hour-mark, with Emerson among the triple change Postecoglou made seconds later.
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Spurs put some respect on the scoreline with goals from Richarlison and Heung-min Son, however, they left themselves too much work to do in their bid to take advantage of fourth-placed Aston Villa's defeat at Brighton earlier on Sunday.