Tottenham Facing Injury Crisis Ahead of Carabao Cup Clash
Tottenham are dealing with a significant injury crisis at a crucial time, and given their 17-year wait for silverware, they would have hoped for better news ahead of their Carabao Cup showdown.
Speaking to the media, Ange Postecoglou provided updates on the squad’s fitness via *tottenhamhotspur.com*:
“With Micky [Van de Ven] and [Cristian] Romero to a certain extent, we need to be more cautious.
Micky got through the [Europa League] game fine, but he doesn’t feel quite ready for the intensity of the Premier League. The same goes for Romero.
“Losing Radu [Dragusin] for the rest of the season is really disappointing for him and for us.
My decision is to avoid taking risks with these guys, keeping them in training to ensure they are fully ready without further setbacks. The same approach applies to other players returning from injury.”*
The “other guys” Postecoglou referred to include Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson.
However, Spurs will be boosted by the availability of recent signings Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, both of whom are set to feature in the match.
Spurs’ Injury Woes and Liverpool’s Motivation
Tottenham’s growing injury concerns only add to the stakes for the second leg at Anfield, especially after the controversial circumstances of Lucas Bergvall’s match-winning goal in the first leg.
The atmosphere on Thursday night is set to be electric, with Liverpool eager to turn the tie around.
While Postecoglou’s comments suggest he is being cautious with his players, it is unusual for someone to be fit for a Europa League match but not for the Premier League. This raises the possibility of unexpected inclusions in the squad.
One of the biggest advantages for Liverpool could be the absence of Van de Ven, given his defensive quality.
His recent links to a potential move to Merseyside would have made his performance an interesting subplot, but that will have to wait for later in the season.
For now, Liverpool will be hoping to navigate the game without any fresh injury concerns and secure a place in Arne Slot’s first Wembley final.