Tottenham boss delivers big team news ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final first leg vs Liverpool
Ange Postecoglou has been handed a double blow ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg clash against Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday.
Tottenham have been plagued by injuries this season with nine players missing in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League last weekend, including Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison, Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert.
A sickness bug that hit the Tottenham squad last week caused Ange Postecoglou some selection issues against Newcastle. He had to hand Brandon Austin his Spurs debut as Fraser Forster was bedridden for the match, while Radu Dragusin could only manage to play the first half.
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The Australian tactician faced the media at the Hotspur Way on Tuesday afternoon. He was asked for an injury update on his first-team squad ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool. The gaffer said (h/t Football London):
“It depends, net wise we are still down. We will get Bentancur back but we lose Maddison and Sarr by suspension. A couple of numbers down there. In terms of injuries no-one is back. Mikey (Moore) could potentially be available on the bench.
“Everyone else from the weekend certainly feel better, Radu (Dragusin) has recovered, Archie (Gray) is better. They were the main ones. Deki (Kulusevski) was under the weather but he is good. Pretty much as it was on the weekend plus Bentancur minus the other two.”
Having Bentancur back from a one-game suspension is a big boost for Spurs. The South American is expected to start at the heart of their midfield unit, trying to dictate the tempo of play and win battles against Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
Moore returning to the squad after more than a month out will also be a plus, especially when Big Ange has lacked options to rest and rotate in the forward areas of the pitch. The teenage prodigy has been badly affected by a virus, leading to him missing as many as 14 games but now looks like to have regained his fitness. Also, to have Dragusin and Gray fully fit and ready to go after a bout with sickness is positive news.
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However, Sarr and Maddison being ruled out of the tie due to suspension are big losses for the home side. Both are valuable to this Tottenham squad in their own way and Big Ange has to chalk out a plan to replace them in his side, especially Sarr as he has been a constant presence in the engine room.
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Let’s hope our boys turn up, produce a strong display and take a first-leg advantage against a lethal Liverpool side, who head into this fixture off the back of a 2-2 Premier League draw with bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
