Richarlison still sidelined as Tottenham face Liverpool in Carabao Cup
Richarlison will not be recalled for Tottenham’s Carabao Cup visit to Liverpool on Tuesday, with Roberto De Zerbi maintaining the forward’s exclusion despite his eligibility for the competition. The Brazilian is outside Spurs’ 25-man Premier League squad and remains unavailable for first-team selection while his future is unresolved.
The 29-year-old began the league season in the opening match at Brentford before being informed that he could leave the club. A proposed return to Everton subsequently broke down, while interest from Trabzonspor did not produce a transfer. Richarlison also rejected a move to his boyhood side Vasco da Gama on Friday after personal terms could not be agreed.
He attended Tottenham’s 0-0 draw at Everton after the Vasco talks ended, but will again be absent at Anfield. The decision comes despite a productive individual record against Liverpool: Richarlison has scored four times in seven appearances against them for Spurs. Tottenham have yet to score in the Premier League in 2026-27.
De Zerbi keeps distance from transfer dispute
De Zerbi said the player’s position would not change for cup football. “The situation is the same,” he said, explaining that matters beyond selecting the side were for Richarlison and the club to address. The head coach revealed that he had spoken repeatedly with the striker at the start of the season and offered him a contract extension, but could not persuade him to remain.
“I proposed an extension of the contract,” De Zerbi said. “If he said, ‘No thank you’, I finished my job.” He added that he knew the details of the previous 45 days but would not discuss them publicly, describing the issue as one between the player and Tottenham.
Spurs will also travel to Merseyside without Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali. De Zerbi suggested there could be opportunities for players who have had limited minutes, although he does not intend to make extensive changes following the stalemate at Everton.
Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel were among those the Italian did not regard as peripheral options, while he pointed to Tottenham’s depth at centre-back. JP van Hecke and Micky van de Ven were praised, but De Zerbi also said Marcos Senesi, Ben Davies and Tosin Adarabioyo were not below that level. Tottenham’s manager made clear that he wants the club to mount serious runs in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
