Tottenham Hotspur will still be without an array of first-teamers this Wednesday when they host Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Consistent and devastating injuries have been the theme of Tottenham’s gruelling campaign thus far and Ange Postecoglou’s options remain extremely limited ahead of Liverpool’s visit. Defence has been most decimated by fitness issues in recent months but there are absentees across the squad.
Spurs desperately need to end their 17-year trophy drought this term and Wednesday serves as an excellent opportunity to put one foot in the Carabao Cup final. However, they will have to hurdle injuries and an excellent Liverpool side to make the showpiece event.
Here are the Tottenham players missing from Wednesday’s duel with Liverpool.
Tottenham will boast just one member of their first-choice back five on Wednesday evening, with Pedro Porro the last man standing at right-back. Elsewhere, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies are all absent at centre-back, while Destiny Udogie is out for the long-term having recently sustained a hamstring injury.
To make matters worse, Spurs are without their leading goalkeeper at present. Guglielmo Vicario has been missing since late November and his replacement Fraser Forster is also struggling with illness. Third-choice Brandon Austin made his debut in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the weekend.
However, Spurs have signed a new goalkeeper during the first week of the January transfer window, recruiting Slavia Prague youngster Antonin Kinsky. He is available and eligible to feature against Liverpool.
Fortunately for Postecoglou, Tottenham don’t have any injury issues in midfield, but they will be without James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr on Wednesday evening. Both are serving one-match bans after picking up two yellow cards in the previous rounds of the Carabao Cup.
In better news, Rodrigo Bentancur is back from the Premier League suspension that saw him miss Saturday’s clash with the Magpies. He’s likely to partner Yves Bissouma in the centre of the park, while teenager Lucas Bergvall could earn more minutes after starting at the weekend.
Tottenham may be keen to bring in some greater attacking depth over January but they have seen previous absentee Richarlison return to training recently. The Brazilian is yet to start in the Premier League this term due to ongoing fitness issues and he will be missing on Wednesday having yet to fully recovery from a hamstring problem.
The same injury has sidelined summer signing Wilson Odobert since October and the former Burnley forward will be missing for Liverpool’s visit. However, young Mikey Moore could feature in the squad having been missing since early November due to illness.
|
Player |
Status |
|---|---|
|
Guglielmo Vicario |
Out |
|
Fraser Forster |
Doubt |
|
Micky van de Ven |
Out |
|
Cristian Romero |
Out |
|
Ben Davies |
Out |
|
Destiny Udogie |
Out |
|
James Maddison |
Suspended |
|
Pape Matar Sarr |
Suspended |
|
Richarlison |
Out |
|
Wilson Odobert |
Out |
|
Mikey Moore |
Doubt |
