Carabao Cup Rotation
Tottenham Manager Plans Squad Rotation for Upcoming Carabao Cup Tie Against Liverpool
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Key Points
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De Zerbi strongly defended Tottenham’s central-defensive depth, saying Ben Davies, Marcos Senesi and Tosin Adarabioyo are “not less than Van Hecke and Van de Ven.”
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Tottenham’s five-goal win over Charlton is reportedly the club’s only match this season in which it has scored, adding context to the team’s early attacking problems.
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James Maddison is unlikely to start because he has only recently returned from a minor shoulder fracture and is Tottenham’s only natural No. 10 available for selection; Omar Marmoush could instead start as the central striker.
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Tottenham’s injury picture includes a setback for Dejan Kulusevski: after returning to full-team training and being named in the Premier League squad, he stopped again because of a minor issue. The club also lost winger Mykhailo Mudryk to what De Zerbi called a “stupid injury.”
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Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Milos Kerkez both returned from the bench in the 0-0 draw with Fulham after midweek fitness concerns, while forward Hugo Ekitike was expected to return later in the year following surgery and rehabilitation.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi will rotate his squad for Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool, but will maintain the same competitive intensity as in the Premier League. Spurs Web reports that De Zerbi is considering five players for starts, including teenage defender Luca Williams-Barnett, midfielder Lucas Bergvall, and forward Mathys Tel, as injury absences mount across the squad.
Sandro Tonali is ruled out with a knock, Pedro Porro remains unavailable, and Richarlison will not feature after being omitted from Tottenham's league squad. BBC confirmed these absences ahead of the tie, while De Zerbi has accepted responsibility for Tottenham's early-season attacking struggles after a goalless draw with Everton.
De Zerbi Defends Defensive Depth Amid Absences
De Zerbi strongly defended Tottenham's central defensive options, insisting that Ben Davies, Marcos Senesi, and Tosin Adarabioyo are "not less than Van Hecke and Van de Ven," BBC reported. The manager's comments signal confidence in his reserve defenders despite losing Pedro Porro to injury and needing to manage workload across the back line during the cup rotation.
Tottenham's Attacking Problems Run Deeper Than Recent Draws
Tottenham's five-goal win over Charlton stands as the club's only match this season in which it has scored multiple goals, underscoring early-season attacking struggles. The goalless draw with Everton adds to the concern, though De Zerbi remains confident in his squad's ability to improve after a slow start to the campaign.
Maddison Unlikely to Start, Marmoush Steps In
James Maddison is unlikely to start because he recently returned from a minor shoulder fracture and is Tottenham's only natural No. 10 available for selection. Spurs Web reports that Omar Marmoush could instead start as the central striker, giving him playing time while Maddison builds match fitness on the bench.
Liverpool Returns Gakpo and Kerkez After Fulham Draw
Liverpool enters after a goalless draw with Fulham with positive injury news. Rush The Kop reports that Joe Gomez is back in team training and available for selection after missing the start of the season with a muscle injury. Cody Gakpo and Milos Kerkez both returned from the bench in the Fulham match after midweek fitness concerns.
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