**Tottenham are set to welcome back midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after he completes his seven-match ban. His return comes at a critical time for Spurs, who were outclassed by Liverpool in a 6-3 defeat yesterday, leaving them to regroup for their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.**
Spurs’ defensive frailties were brutally exposed in their home defeat to Liverpool, where the Reds scored six goals with clinical precision.
Tottenham struggled to contain Liverpool’s high press, and by half-time, the visitors had taken a commanding 3-1 lead with goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai. James Maddison’s brilliant strike was the only bright spot for Tottenham in the first half.
The second half saw Liverpool assert their dominance further, with Diaz scoring a brace and Mohamed Salah adding two more goals to his tally. Although Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke pulled one back each for Spurs, it was little more than a consolation for a team that was thoroughly outclassed.
Ange Postecoglou has been forced to field a depleted squad with several key players unavailable due to injuries or suspensions. Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were missing for the Liverpool clash, leaving Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray to step in at the back. However, the defensive pairing struggled to cope, particularly as Liverpool targeted Spurs’ right side, which was perceived as a weak link.
Rodrigo Bentancur returns after 7-match ban
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Bentancur’s return comes as a timely boost for Spurs, as his presence in midfield will provide much-needed stability and support to a team currently reeling from the heavy loss. His absence has been felt, and with key defenders still sidelined, the Uruguayan’s experience and composure will be vital in the upcoming matches.
Bentancur’s suspension stemmed from comments made during an interview, where he made a culturally insensitive joke about South Korean people while discussing obtaining a jersey from Tottenham teammate Heung-min Son.
Although the remark was intended as a light-hearted joke, it was widely condemned for being inappropriate. Despite [Bentancur’s public apology](https://theboyhotspur.com/tottenham-star-issues-public-apology-to-heung-min-son-for-racist-comment/) and [Son accepting the apology, showing support for his teammate](https://theboyhotspur.com/heung-min-son-breaks-silence-on-rodrigo-bentancur-controversy/), the FA launched an investigation, which led to the seven-match suspension.
Tottenham appealed the length of the ban, but the FA upheld the full seven-match suspension, which will officially end after the Liverpool match.