Tottenham head to Anfield on Tuesday night with familiar problems, injuries, selection compromises and a forward still stuck in limbo. For Roberto De Zerbi, the Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool already looked awkward. It now looks thinner, harsher and more revealing.
Spurs have drawn 0-0 in successive league games against Nottingham Forest and Everton . That tells its own story. They are short on rhythm, short on sharpness and, in a few areas, short on bodies. A trip to Liverpool is rarely generous. Tottenham have not won there for 15 years, and current circumstances do not suggest a clean break from that trend.
Sandro Tonali and Pedro Porro will both miss the trip. Tonali picked up a knock after the Everton stalemate, while Porro is still dealing with a muscular issue. Dejan Kulusevski also remains unavailable, which further narrows De Zerbi's options in a squad already carrying too many fitness doubts for this stage of the season.
The one small lift is the return of Destiny Udogie , who was held back at the weekend as a precaution. De Zerbi confirmed the latest plainly enough: "No, Kulusevski not available. Pedro is still not available. Udogie yes. Richarlison, you already know everything, nothing changed for the Carabao Cup or Premier League. The situation is the same."
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That last line matters. Richarlison is fit enough to be considered, yet still excluded after trying and failing to force through a move away before the window shut. Tottenham wanted a solution, the player wanted a solution, nothing happened. So he remains outside the picture.
There is no subtlety here. Richarlison asked to leave, Spurs were open to it, and now everyone is left with an unresolved problem. De Zerbi has made his choice and is sticking to it. The Brazilian will not travel to Merseyside, and there is no sign of a thaw.
That leaves Tottenham relying on players who are available, if not fully ready. De Zerbi admitted that Mateus Fernandes , Conor Gallagher and Mohammed Kudus are all short of full match fitness. That is manageable in some fixtures. Against Liverpool, it becomes expensive.
There could be changes, and there could be minutes for academy winger Luca Williams-Barnett. De Zerbi said: "I don't know, Luca. We have to see because many players need to play. Maybe not 90 minutes, 90 minutes, but 30 minutes a real game is important. Yes, there is not Sandro Tonali. I forgot to say because he felt a knock."
That sounds like a manager balancing need against risk. Tottenham need a result, but they also need to get players through the night. Those objectives do not always align.
Predicted Spurs XI: Dubravka, Gray, Adarabioyo , Senesi , Udogie, Bentancur , Bergvall , Gallagher, Kudus, Solanke , Marmosh.
Kick-off is 8pm BST on Tuesday, September 15 at Anfield. Tottenham need a performance as much as a result. Right now, both feel difficult.
