Tottenham Faces Injury Setbacks Ahead of Carabao Cup Clash at Anfield

Tottenham head to Anfield tonight chasing a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and a much-needed jolt of confidence, but they will do it without Sandro Tonali and Pedro Porro – and with Richarlison still frozen out.

Spurs have gone two games without scoring, back-to-back 0-0 draws with Nottingham Forest and Everton draining momentum just as the season was supposed to be taking shape. Now comes a trip to a stadium where they have not won in 15 years, with a squad patched together after a bruising, disjointed pre-season.

Tonali and Porro ruled out

Roberto De Zerbi confirmed Tonali has suffered a minor knock picked up in the draw with Everton, ruling the midfielder out of the tie. Porro, meanwhile, continues to battle the muscular problem that already sidelined him at the weekend.

Both absences cut into the spine of De Zerbi’s plans. Tonali’s control in midfield and Porro’s thrust from right-back have become central to how Spurs build attacks. Take them out, and the picture shifts.

There is at least one boost. Destiny Udogie, left out against Everton as a precaution, is back in contention and expected to start at left-back.

Richarlison still in exile

The situation around Richarlison remains icy. Eligible for the Carabao Cup, the Brazilian will still not travel to Merseyside.

Richarlison pushed hard to leave Spurs in the summer and was left out of the club’s Premier League squad when a move failed to materialise. Talks over an exit dragged into the final days of the window but never produced an agreement, leaving the former Everton striker stuck in limbo and firmly outside De Zerbi’s plans.

The head coach made it clear nothing has changed.

“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,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference.

Dejan Kulusevski, a long-term absentee, remains out, joining a growing list that already includes several key attacking options.

Rotation, kids and tired legs

Spurs are expected to rotate at Anfield, but De Zerbi is walking a tightrope. Go too strong and he risks burning out players still chasing full fitness. Go too light and a Liverpool side at home, under the lights, could overwhelm a makeshift XI.

Among those still short of peak condition, De Zerbi namechecked Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher and Mohammed Kudus. All are important, all need minutes, yet none are truly up to speed.

That is where the academy may come in. Young winger Luca Williams-Barnett is in the frame for involvement, though De Zerbi stopped short of guaranteeing him a major role.

“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,” he said, underlining the balancing act he faces.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Liverpool

Dubravka; Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie; Bentancur, Bergvall, Gallagher; Kudus, Solanke, Marmoush.

Injured: Simons, Odobert, Kulusevski, Tonali, Porro, Mudryk
Unavailable: Richarlison

Kick-off is at 8pm BST on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Anfield, with live coverage on Sky Sports and ITV4.

Spurs arrive with their squad stretched, their attack misfiring and their patience wearing thin. Anfield has not been kind to them for a decade and a half. If De Zerbi can navigate the injuries, the politics and the fatigue to find a result here, it might just be the night that defines their season’s direction.