Roberto De Zerbi has more to ponder after Tottenham slipped to a third defeat of the season, beaten 3-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday to crash out of the Carabao Cup early.
Spurs rarely got a grip on the game at Anfield and, as has become familiar, lacked the sharpness in the final third to turn their spells of possession into goals. With several fringe players given a chance to impress, few took it — and De Zerbi may now be weighing a rethink for the next league game.
Attacking issues laid bare again
Handed just his second start of 2026 after a long injury lay-off, Mohammed Kudus showed he’s still short of full sharpness: three shots but only one on target, a big chance spurned, and just a quarter of his attempted crosses and dribbles coming off.
Tottenham actually out-shot Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool on the night, but the quality gap told — Spurs missed more big chances than their hosts, and while some decent openings came from set pieces, composure in the key moments was again lacking. The cup exit continues an increasingly familiar story of created chances going to waste.
Could Mathys Tel be the next Timo Werner?
Wasteful forward play isn’t new at Tottenham — Timo Werner managed just three goals in 41 appearances between 2023 and 2025, missing nine big chances in the league along the way, and never quite won over the fanbase.
Mathys Tel now risks a similar fate. The 21-year-old has gone eight games without a goal or assist, with just five goals in his last 46 appearances overall — numbers that are starting to draw comparisons with Werner’s struggles.
Given a start against Liverpool, Tel did little to change the narrative: 85 minutes on the pitch, only 71% pass completion, 17 turnovers, no shots on target, no chances created, and just 40% of his dribbles successful. His 38 touches were fewer than goalkeeper Martin Dubravka managed. It added up to a 3/10 showing — among the poorest on the pitch for Spurs.
The performance has intensified scrutiny on his place in the starting XI. Unless his output improves, Tel could find himself squeezed out as De Zerbi looks for more end product up front — and avoiding a Werner-esque reputation will require a marked upturn in form soon.
