Igor Tudor faces a major selection crisis as Tottenham travel to Anfield on Sunday, with at least 12 players unavailable for the Premier League clash against Liverpool
Igor Tudor faces the daunting prospect of securing an improbable result at Liverpool whilst being deprived of at least 12 Tottenham players for Sunday's Anfield encounter.
Tudor revealed on Friday afternoon during his pre-match press briefing that Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha would be unavailable on Merseyside, as both are now undergoing concussion protocols following a collision in the dying moments of Spurs ' 5-2 Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid.
The interim Spurs manager understands his position is under threat following four consecutive defeats since his arrival in north London, with no discernible improvement in form or displays since he succeeded Thomas Frank last month.
Troubles continue to mount at Tottenham, and alongside the concussed Romero and Palhinha, Tudor will also be without Yves Bissouma due to a muscular issue, has Micky van de Ven serving a suspension, and Conor Gallagher battling a fever.
The latter is anticipated to be fit in time, but should he fail to recover, Spurs will have 13 absentees.
The Spurs manager suggested to football.london that at Anfield, Archie Gray would be deployed in yet another unfamiliar role under his stewardship. This indicates the 20 year old will operate on the right side of a back three, having already featured at left-back, right wing-back and in midfield for the Croatian.
This would see Pedro Porro and Djed Spence operating as the full-backs against Liverpool. Tudor also confirmed that Guglielmo Vicario will be returning to the goal.
If Gray is in the defence, then it leaves only Pape Matar Sarr and possibly Gallagher as the remaining fit central midfielders.
Both Richarlison and Dominic Solanke have found the back of the net in recent matches and merit a starting position over Randal Kolo Muani, who continues to struggle to make his mark in the Premier League.
This leaves Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel to fill the other attacking role, either in a front three or behind the two strikers.