Tottenham XI vs Liverpool: Injury Blow with Tonali and Porro Out

Tottenham head to Anfield tonight stripped of two key starters and with one high-profile forward still frozen out, as Roberto De Zerbi wrestles with how hard to push in the Carabao Cup.

Sandro Tonali and Pedro Porro will both miss the third-round tie on Merseyside, a double blow for a Spurs side already short of rhythm and confidence. Richarlison, meanwhile, stays at home, still in limbo after his failed summer exit.

Spurs’ 15-year wait at Anfield

Tottenham have not won at Anfield in 15 years. They arrive this time on the back of two goalless stalemates, against Nottingham Forest and Everton, and badly need a jolt to their season.

The competition might be the Carabao Cup, but the stakes feel higher. A place in the fourth round is on offer, yet for De Zerbi, this also looks like a test of his squad’s mentality after a disrupted pre-season and a flat start in front of goal.

Injury latest: Tonali and Porro out, Udogie back

De Zerbi confirmed Tonali had picked up a minor knock following the Everton draw, ruling the Italian midfielder out of the trip. Porro, who missed the weekend action with a muscular problem, has not recovered in time either.

Those absences strip Spurs of control in midfield and thrust more responsibility onto Rodrigo Bentancur and the rest of the engine room.

There is at least one positive. Destiny Udogie returns after being left out against Everton as a precaution, with De Zerbi making clear the left-back is ready to feature at Anfield.

Richarlison remains frozen out

The Richarlison saga rumbles on, but not on the pitch. The Brazilian is eligible to play in the Carabao Cup, yet De Zerbi has again left him out of the travelling squad.

Richarlison made no secret of his desire to leave in the summer and was omitted from Spurs’ Premier League squad once a move failed to materialise. Despite late attempts from both player and club to engineer an exit, he stayed — but remains on the outside looking in.

De Zerbi was blunt: nothing has changed for Richarlison in either competition. The situation is the same, and the forward will play no part at Anfield.

Dejan Kulusevski also stays sidelined, with the head coach confirming the long-term absentee is still not ready to return.

Minutes to manage, kids to tempt

The selection picture is messy. De Zerbi must decide how close to full strength he dares to go, knowing several key players are short of full match fitness.

He name-checked Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher and Mohammed Kudus as all needing more minutes but not yet at their physical peak. That reality drags the door open a little wider for the club’s youngsters.

One of those is academy winger Luca Williams-Barnett, who could be handed a taste of senior action. De Zerbi did not guarantee his involvement but admitted he is under consideration, even if only for a 30-minute burst rather than a full 90.

Tottenham predicted 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. Live coverage is on Sky Sports and ITV4.

With a stretched squad, a hostile ground and a long winless run on this turf, De Zerbi has a decision to make: chase momentum with his big guns, or trust the fringe and the fearless to drag Spurs into the fourth round.