Tottenham coach De Zerbi rules Richarlison out of Liverpool clash

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Roberto De Zerbi said Richarlison would not be in Tottenham’s squad for Tuesday’s League Cup tie at Liverpool even though his team are struggling badly for goals.

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The Brazilian forward was left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League player list submitted earlier this month after being informed he was not part of first-team plans, but failed to secure a departure and is eligible to play in the League Cup.

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However, Spurs boss De Zerbi confirmed on Monday that the ex-Everton forward, who turned down a move to Vasco da Gama last week, would not feature despite boasting an impressive record for the club against Liverpool.

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“Richarlison, you already know everything and nothing changes for the Carabao (League) Cup or the Premier League. The situation is the same,” he said.

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The Italian, whose team are yet to score a goal in four Premier League matches this season, said he was caught in the middle.

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“What I have done at the beginning of this season has been to speak with him and to propose an extension of the contract,” he said. “If he said, ‘No, thank you,’ I finished my job.

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“I said at the last press conference. I know what happened in the last 45 days. It’s not right if I explain. It’s not my behaviour. The relationship, the problem is between the player and the club.

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“I stay within the club. It’s the coach and the club together. At the start of this season I spoke to him many times to convince him to stay and he didn’t want to. I can’t go every day to pray for him to stay.”

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Richarlison, 29, started Tottenham’s Premier League opener at Brentford but was told he could leave before a move to Everton collapsed and links to Trabzonspor failed to result in a move.

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He attended Saturday’s goalless draw with Everton, but will remain on the sidelines.

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De Zerbi will also be without Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali for the midweek trip to Anfield.

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AFP

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