Kudus Returns to Spurs Starting XI After 257 Days

Mohammed Kudus finally heard his name read out in a Tottenham starting XI again in England – and it came on one of the most unforgiving stages of all: Anfield on a Cup night.

The Ghanaian forward, making his first start for the London club in 257 days, was handed 75 minutes in the English League Cup third-round tie against Liverpool. It was a long-awaited chance to reintroduce himself, a rare window to impress in a high-intensity game.

For spells, he did just that. Kudus buzzed around the Liverpool half, constantly involved, always available for the ball. His big moment arrived in the 32nd minute. Tottenham were 1–0 down, chasing the game, when the ball broke his way in a promising position. From close range, with the away end holding its breath, he went for power.

The shot flew over.

It was the kind of chance that can tilt a cup tie, the kind that lingers in the mind once the final whistle goes. Tottenham never fully recovered the initiative. As the second half wore on and the tempo stayed high, the visitors needed fresh legs. In the 75th minute, Kudus made way for new signing Savio, his comeback start complete but his influence ultimately limited on the scoresheet.

Liverpool, relentless as ever at home, tightened their grip and ran out 3–1 winners, dumping Spurs out of the competition and ending any hopes of a League Cup run.

National team door swings open

The night still carried significance for Kudus beyond Tottenham’s exit. After such a long wait for a start, 75 competitive minutes at Anfield send a clear message back home.

According to MyJoyOnline, his return to the XI is expected to feed directly into Carlos Queiroz’s plans for Ghana. The forward is tipped for a place in the Black Stars squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia.

Club disappointment, then, but a personal step forward. The question now is whether this long-awaited start becomes a one-off cameo in Spurs colours, or the beginning of a sustained run that carries him straight into the heart of Ghana’s next qualifying campaign.