Tottenham Squad Faces Challenges Ahead of Carabao Cup Match at Anfield

Tottenham head to Anfield tonight with a place in the Carabao Cup fourth round on the line and a squad creaking at the seams.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have gone two games without scoring, back-to-back 0-0 draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton draining some of the optimism that followed his arrival. Now comes Liverpool away in a competition Spurs can realistically target – and they must do it without two of their most important summer signings.

Tonali and Porro ruled out

Sandro Tonali will play no part on Merseyside. The Italy midfielder picked up a minor knock in the stalemate with Everton, and De Zerbi has opted not to risk him, stripping Tottenham of their tempo-setter in the middle of the pitch.

On the right, Pedro Porro remains sidelined with the muscular problem that already kept him out at the weekend. His absence again forces a reshuffle in a back line that has barely had a chance to settle after a disrupted pre-season.

There is at least one piece of good news. Destiny Udogie returns after being left out against Everton as a precaution, restoring some balance on the left and giving De Zerbi an aggressive outlet from full-back.

Richarlison frozen out

If injuries are hurting Spurs, the Richarlison saga is simply awkward.

The Brazilian is eligible to play in the Carabao Cup. De Zerbi could use his experience, his edge, his history of scoring at Anfield. He will not.

Richarlison pushed hard for a move away in the summer and paid the price. Tottenham left him out of their Premier League squad, and despite late efforts from both player and club to engineer an exit, nothing materialised. The former Everton forward has been left in limbo, fit but unwanted.

De Zerbi made it clear nothing has changed ahead of the trip north. Richarlison will not travel. His exile continues, competition irrelevant.

Kulusevski still out, kids on standby

Dejan Kulusevski remains a long-term absentee and is still not ready to return, stripping Spurs of another senior attacking option. De Zerbi admitted several others are not at full tilt either, with Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher and Mohammed Kudus all short of peak match sharpness.

That reality pushes the manager towards rotation, but not wholesale gamble. Spurs are expected to mix core starters with fringe players, trying to protect legs without waving the white flag at a ground where they have not won in 15 years.

The door may open, at least a crack, for academy winger Luca Williams-Barnett. De Zerbi talked up the importance of “real game” minutes, even if only for half an hour, and the youngster is among those in contention for a late cameo if the game state allows.

Selection headaches at Anfield

The decisions are piling up for De Zerbi. Go strong and risk further fatigue or injury? Or trust a rotated side to handle the intensity of Anfield and a Liverpool team that rarely treat home cup ties as friendlies?

With Tonali out, the midfield burden is likely to fall on Rodrigo Bentancur and teenage talent Lucas Bergvall, with Gallagher asked to graft despite his own fitness concerns. Kudus, still playing his way back to full sharpness, may again be leaned on in the front line, with Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush expected to carry the goal threat for a team that has not found the net in two matches.

At the back, Martin Dubravka should continue in goal, protected by a shuffled defence of Gray, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marcos Senesi and the returning Udogie.

Tottenham’s predicted XI at Anfield: Dubravka; Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie; Bentancur, Bergvall, Gallagher; Kudus, Solanke, Marmoush.

Unavailable through injury are Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Kulusevski, Tonali, Porro and Mykhailo Mudryk, with Richarlison omitted for non-footballing reasons.

Anfield under the lights, a cup tie with edge, a squad stretched and a manager juggling risk against reward. For a Tottenham side desperate for a spark, this is either the night the season stirs – or another reminder of how far they still have to go.