For the third time this campaign, Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi will have to return to the drawing board after suffering another defeat in 2026/27.
His side were on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline against Liverpool at Anfield last night, subsequently ending their hopes of claiming Carabao Cup glory this term.
In truth, the Lilywhites struggled for the vast majority of the contest on Merseyside and were unable to provide the cutting edge needed in attacking areas.
Numerous players handed an opportunity to impress by the manager ultimately failed to catch the eye, which could lead to wholesale changes ahead of the club’s next Premier League outing.
Why Spurs’ lack of cutting edge cost them against Liverpool
In an attempt to secure a place in the last 16 of the League Cup, De Zerbi handed an only a second start of 2026 to winger Mohammed Kudus after his long-term injury lay-off.
However, the showing from the Ghanaian international was one which highlighted his lack of match fitness – as seen by his stats within attacking areas.
The 26-year-old registered three shots and could only place one of his efforts on target, which saw him miss one big chance before the hosts took a first-half lead.
He was also able to complete just 25% of his attempted crosses and dribbles, which saw the Lilywhites often lack quality within the final third of the pitch.
Their lack of quality in attacking areas was further evident in the match figures, as De Zerbi’s men managed to actually register more shots than Iraola’s side.
However, crucially, they also missed more big chances in front of goal, which ultimately saw them fail to capitalise on their work in possession at Anfield.
Some of their best chances also came from set pieces, but the lack of quality was once again evident and resulted in yet another early League Cup exit.
Why De Zerbi must drop Spurs’ next Timo Werner
Spurs having players who lack the needed quality in front of goal is an awfully familiar story, with Timo Werner a player who often fell into that category in North London.
The German became known for his struggles in the final third, as he only netted three goals during his 41 appearances for the Lilywhites between 2023 and 2025.
He missed nine big chances during such a period in the Premier League alone, which often saw the former Chelsea man become a scapegoat within the Lilywhites fanbase.
However, it appears as though current first-team member Mathys Tel could be suffering a similar fate after his recent lacklustre period under De Zerbi in North London.
The Frenchman has now gone eight games without a single goal or assist, with such a run seeing him find the back of the net just five times across the last 46 matches.
Such a record is extremely similar to that of Werner during his own spell with the Lilywhites, subsequently highlighting the pair’s lack of quality in forward areas.
However, the manager handed the 21-year-old a start during the clash with Liverpool last night, but such a decision undoubtedly proved to be the wrong one based on his struggles.
Tel featured for 85 minutes of the 3-1 defeat, but could only complete 71% of the passes he attempted, resulting in him gifting the ball back to the hosts on 17 occasions.
He also failed to register a single shot on the opposition’s goal, whilst failing to provide a single chance for his teammates – subsequently showcasing his lack of threat in attacking areas.
The former Bayern Munich man was also unable to get the better of the Reds’ full-backs, as he could only complete 40% of his dribbles and registered just 38 touches, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who registered 47.
After such a showing, the forward was handed a measly 3/10 match rating, with such a rating one of the lowest of any Lilywhites player who started the encounter on Merseyside.
|
Spurs’ player ratings against Liverpool |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Rating |
|
Martin Dubravka |
7 |
|
Archie Gray |
5 |
|
Tosin Adarabioyo |
6 |
|
Marcos Senesi |
5 |
|
Destiny Udogie |
6 |
|
Rodrigo Bentancur |
6 |
|
Lucas Bergvall |
7 |
|
Mohammed Kudus |
5 |
|
Conor Gallagher |
7 |
|
Mathys Tel |
3 |
|
Omar Marmoush |
5 |
Tel has proven he’s not at the level needed for success in North London, with the manager desperately needing to drop him from his starting eleven.
He’s in danger of following a similar path to Werner in the months ahead, which could spell an abrupt end to any hopes of becoming a fan-favourite in the years ahead.
