Tottenham shift their focus to the Carabao Cup on Tuesday as they face Liverpool in the third round.
Tottenham Hotspur were eager to send a message and silence their naysayers against Everton on Saturday. However, after a bright start to the game, they fizzled out and ended up playing out a goalless draw.
Spurs failed to test Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for the best part of the 90 minutes, with some jeers being heard at the stadium at the full-time whistle. Given their Premier League struggles, Roberto De Zerbi and Co. will hope to have better fortunes in the Carabao Cup. They will be raring to make it two wins from two in the Carabao Cup when they take on Liverpool at Anfield in round three.
Roberto De Zerbi has already dealt an injury blow ahead of the trip to Liverpool. Sandro Tonali sustained a knock against Everton and will miss the game. Pedro Porro hasn’t recovered from a muscle problem, but Destiny Udogie is available after overcoming his minor muscle concern.
The Tottenham boss makes admission on Dominic Solanke
Dominic Solanke made his first league start of the season against Everton at home. The centre-forward has had his fair share of calf problems, and keeping that in mind, De Zerbi and his coaching staff have managed his minutes at the start of the season.
After appearances off the bench, the 28-year-old played 63 minutes before being withdrawn on Saturday. Ahead of the Carabao Cup fixture, De Zerbi spoke about Dominic Solanke and his fitness levels. He has demanded that the England international improve his physical fitness condition and “stay positive” to score plenty of goals this season.
“Solanke is a good player. He needs to improve his physical condition and stay positive because he can score many goals with us. Marmoush and Savio were not the protagonists, but that is different here,” De Zerbi said in his press conference (h/t Football London).
With Richarlison frozen out, Solanke remains the club’s only out-and-out No.9. The Englishman has demonstrated in the past that he can score all kinds of goals if he can remain fully fit and motivated. A combination of calf and hamstring injuries hampered his progress last year, but the ex-Bournemouth man now looks hungry to take his game to another level under De Zerbi.
There is a big possibility that Solanke leads the Tottenham line against Liverpool. The centre-forward will be keen to make a mark against his former employers and help Spurs advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.