Football365

Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur was the standout tie of this season’s Carabao Cup third round, mainly because the game had ramifications for both clubs beyond the competition after far-from-ideal starts to the 2026/27 campaign.

The two Big Six sides had the chance to use this extra 90 minutes to build cohesion and/or momentum with their preferred XI, but you rarely get this from the top teams at this stage of the Carabao Cup, and it is hardly surprising that Andoni Iraola and Roberto De Zerbi made wholesale changes.

There were 18 (yes, EIGHTEEN) changes in total from the teams picked by Liverpool (ten) and Tottenham (eight) at the weekend compared to Tuesday night, and the starting XIs made their differing levels of squad depth clear as day.

Spurs, boosted by Mohammed Kudus making his first start since January, largely opted for a mix of new signings and fringe first XI players, while Liverpool started four academy products.

It added fuel to the argument that FSG have left Iraola short in the summer, but there were still far more positives for Liverpool than Tottenham at Anfield to take after the hosts deservedly won 3-1 on Tuesday night.

READ: Arsenal’s Max Dowman is proof JJ Gabriel’s Man Utd pathway is not the problem

As they have in most games this season, De Zerbi’s side started well enough and should have scored at least one goal after carving good openings for Lucas Bergvall and Kudus before the break.

Most of Tottenham’s success came via attacking the left flank and the gaps left available by Jeremie Frimpong, who continues to look lost in this Liverpool side, but there were far more examples of the visitors being wasteful in possession, loose with passes and causing their own problems by inviting pressure from inside the box when playing out from the back.

When a manager is at the start of a project at a new club, supporters need to be given a glimpse of the positive direction the club could be heading in with patience; Iraola’s side did that, but Tottenham continue to inspire nothing but gloom.

Simply put, it is hard to put a finger on what Tottenham try to do in possession, with the struggling side badly devoid of ideas, direction and confidence, especially in the final third.

Kudus was one of their brighter performers, and the return to fitness and form of more key players will be welcome in the coming weeks and months as the quality in this Spurs squad *should* start to tell. But for the moment, there is a clear hangover from last season, and any thoughts of them being dark horses for the Champions League, or any European qualification for that matter, should be shut down.

Liverpool are also on a journey under Iraola, who insisted pre-match that the club must accept that there will be “ups and downs in this process”.

Iraola’s team selection opened the door for Tottenham to kickstart their season, but Tuesday night was a step forward for the hosts.

It was not all good, especially because Liverpool were once again far too easy to play through and would have conceded twice in half an hour had they been playing against a team with a stronger attack.

But Liverpool rode their luck and punished Spurs with two sublime finishes by Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, with the latter player bound to score after nearly joining Tottenham in the summer.

Liverpool looked to be cruising to a very routine 2-0 victory until their corner woes struck again, with No.2 goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili making a weak flap at a Matheus Fernandes delivery before Conor Gallagher headed home.

This made the final 20 minutes unnecessarily uncomfortable, but Spurs failed to capitalise on the Mamardashvili gift despite mounting pressure as substitute Dominik Szoboszlai made it 3-1 in the closing stages with a quite ridiculous strike from range.

Still, despite Liverpool’s clear frailties at the back, there were strong individual performances, particularly from youngsters Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell.

With these back-ups stepping up and proving their worth, Iraola may have more options at his disposal than it seemed on the surface, and it was also promising that they caused Tottenham issues with the head coach’s trademark high press.

Alisson Becker raised concerns at the weekend that Liverpool may not be able to press effectively under Iraola en route to a potential January sacking, but they were on the front foot with Koumas up top and on another day, they would have scored after shutting down Tottenham’s passive play at the back.

As the head coach himself said, there will be lows to come, but there were real signs of Iraola’s Liverpool taking shape at Anfield on Tuesday, while their opponents are still all at sea.

It has been suggested that Roberto De Zerbi will have an exit ‘clause’ in his Tottenham Hotspur contract and a ‘settlement’ could be reached.

De Zerbi penned a lucrative five-year contract when he joined Tottenham towards the end of last season.

The former Brighton and Marseille boss was appointed to save Tottenham from relegation, and he just did enough to help the north London side secure survival on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign.

De Zerbi has now been backed more than any other Tottenham manager, with over £300m spent on signings in the summer.

Despite this, Spurs have made a poor start to this campaign, having failed to win any of their first four Premier League games without scoring a goal.

READ:Good process, occlusion, missing offside lines and missed handballs – the Premier League’s 10 biggest VAR f*ck-ups

Now, De Zerbi is among the favourites to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season, and a report from Football Insider, who have used former Spurs scout Bryan King as a source, have an update on the head coach.

Tottenham tipped to ‘pay settlement’ for Robert De Zerbi exit

According to King, De Zerbi is likely to have a “clause” in his Tottenham contract which would allow the club to ‘pay a settlement’ to reduce the potential cost of his exit if they “don’t start pulling it around”.

“I think managers today can be brought in and sacked,” King told Football Insider.

“I feel that there must be a clause in that contract where, if things went pear-shaped, that there would be a settlement for the amount of time he’s been at the football club.

“And the way he’s going, if we don’t start pulling it around, he’ll be gone in a year or a lot quicker.”

He added: “I don’t think it was the right decision. I don’t think he’s the right manager for the football club. I hope I’m proved wrong because I like Tottenham.

“I was going to see Tottenham matches from 1958, 59, 60 when I was a young kid. And it’s a great football club. I mean, at the moment, they’ve got the best ground in the country but the worst team in the country.”

Earlier this week, respected reporter David Ornstein warned De Zerbi that there is “very little patience” at Tottenham.

Ornstein said on USA Sports: “There’s very little patience, they are asking for time and Roberto De Zerbi will be judged ultimately as the man on the touchline.

“It would be very expensive if they were to part with him but I don’t think that’s on the agenda for now. I think it’s all about him getting results on the pitch and extracting maximum performances after the best part of £400m was spent. Now it’s time to deliver.”

There are already signs of Roberto De Zerbi being doomed to fail at Tottenham Hotspur.

Whether it’s the hangover from last season in terms of results, performances and just general vibes, or the prickly head coach being particularly querulous to reporters when making excuses for Tottenham‘s current situation, not all is rosy for De Zerbi at the north London club.

You also can’t help but feel that Tottenham *should* gradually improve as their new-look squad builds cohesion and key players potentially return to fitness/form, but De Zerbi’s comments to the press and Tottenham’s performances on the field have done little to inspire fan optimism that everything will be back on track again in a couple of months.

Whether he likes it or not, that largely comes down to the work De Zerbi has done after being backed more than any other Tottenham manager, with a summer spend on signings that ended up worth well over £300m.

But it is hard to point blame at De Zerbi for the Richarlison situation.

READ:Good process, occlusion, missing offside lines and missed handballs – the Premier League’s 10 biggest VAR f*ck-ups

Richarlison finds himself in self-inflicted exile at Tottenham Hotspur

After a flurry of new attacking signings at the end of the window, Richarlison was among those deemed surplus to requirements after De Zerbi said he decided at the start of the summer window not to extend his current Spurs contract beyond 2027.

Richarlison was used as a pawn in Tottenham’s chase for Iliman Ndiaye, which ultimately proved unsuccessful, before the experienced striker has since missed out on moves to Trabzonspor and Vasco da Gama.

On Monday, De Zerbi did not mince his words when asked about Richarlison. He said: “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.

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

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

De Zerbi is defending the club as any manager should, but he and the club are unlikely to be wholly innocent in how this situation has unfolded, and some truths could have been left unspoken so Tottenham can save face.

But Richarlison still only has himself to blame for being cut adrift at Tottenham after being left out of their Premier League squad and with De Zerbi confirming he won’t feature in the Carabao Cup.

The 29-year-old’s reaction to De Zerbi’s confirmation of his status for the Carabao Cup was to take to social media to make a petulant post, simply writing “why?” accompanied by a sad face emoji.

This alone justifies De Zerbi’s call to continue snubbing him, with the Tottenham boss not one to tolerate this sort of behaviour from a man-child like Richarlison.

And it is hard to have sympathy for Richarlison after he had more than enough time to find a new home to avoid being in this situation.

Tottenham reportedly rejected offers from Trabzonspor, but they did their part by agreeing to terms with Everton and Vasco da Gama, only for Richarlison not to settle on personal terms with either club.

He is now reportedly lobbying to have his Tottenham contract cancelled, but it would be the least he deserves if he ends up stuck at Spurs until January at least.

Former Premier League forward Christophe Dugarry insists Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi has pulled off a “heist without a balaclava” by signing a five -year deal.

Spurs spent over £300m over the summer as the Tottenham hierarchy did everything to try and give De Zerbi the tools to push up the Premier League.

Back-to-back 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League saw the board take action in the transfer market with big-money deals for Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Omar Marmoush, Savinho and others exciting the fanbase.

However, it has been a terrible start to the new Premier League season that has seen Tottenham once again hug 17th position after four matches.

After two defeats to Brentford and Newcastle United to open the season, Tottenham have now drawn their last two matches 0-0 as they are yet to score a goal in the league.

And now former Birmingham City and France striker Dugarry, who saw De Zerbi close up at Marseille insists “it’s insane” that the Italian got a five-year deal at Tottenham.

READ:Good process, occlusion, missing offside lines and missed handballs – the Premier League’s 10 biggest VAR f*ck-ups

Dugarry told RMC Sport: “He signed for five years, the heist he pulls off, without the balaclava. It’s insane! And now they pay you every week in England so you can go. What he’s doing is magnificent. He’s proven so much in football that he’s incredible.”

The Frenchman added: “I never understood what this man’s true level was. I’m told he did well at Brighton, Sassuolo and I don’t remember where else. For me, he’s not an absolute benchmark for coaching big clubs, he had his chance. For now, he’s struggling to seize it.”

De Zerbi has been labelled a “bully” recently by Troy Deeney for his comments on Tel with the pair involved in a heated on-pitch exchange after their 0-0 draw against Everton.

Dugarry on De Zerbi: ‘He’s completely delusional’

When asked about it in his post-match press conference, De Zerbi said: “Yes, I coached him on the pitch.

READ:Spurs have spent over £300m on this ‘assemblage of fetid horse meat’

“The body shape of a striker. The striker can play with the shoulder on the goal. If we are playing with (James) Maddison, (Mohammed) Kudus and Savio, he has to play as a striker, and the striker has to look at the goal, no?

“Or on the cross of Robertson. He has to stay inside because he started (his career) as a striker. Now he’s playing as a winger, but he started in his career as a striker.”

After seeing the Tel incident, Dugarry further criticised the “completely delusional” Tottenham boss, he continued: “I can’t even talk about him as a coach, but when you’re still capable of making statements like that, post-match, pre-match. During the match, I saw him, he went after Mathys Tel on the pitch. The statements he made about this guy and that, he’s completely out of it.

“It’s astounding to have so little lucidity about what you say. Isn’t there anyone around him who’s going to tell him: ‘Just shut up!’? He’s completely delusional.”

Nottingham Forest have no plans to sell Morgan Gibbs-White in the middle of the season, despite Tottenham Hotspur’s desire to add the attacking midfielder to manager Roberto De Zerbi’s squad, according to a report.

Tottenham wanted to sign Gibbs-White from Forest in the summer of 2025.

The north London club submitted a bid that met the value of the attacking midfielder’s release clause in his contract at the time.

However, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis threatened legal action at the time, with Gibbs-White eventually staying at the City Ground.

The England international attacking midfielder signed a new deal with Forest in July 2025 and is now under contract at the Tricky Trees until the summer of 2028.

Tottenham, though, are now reported to be ready to make a second attempt to sign the former Wolves star.

READ: Liverpool v Tottenham: Prediction, team news, lineups and odds

Tottenham want to sign Morgan Gibbs-White

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are ready to make a bid for Gibbs-White in 2027.

The north London club have been impressed with how the 26-year-old responded to his collapsed move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by starring for Forest last season.

Gibbs-White scored 18 goals and gave seven assists in 53 appearances for Forest last season.

So far this campaign, the attacking midfielder has found the back of the net once and has registered two assists in four matches in all competitions for Forest.

Nottingham Forest want to keep Morgan Gibbs-White

However, according to TEAMtalk, Forest have no plans to sell Gibbs-White in the January transfer window and are planning to hand him a new contract to reward his impressive performances.

The reliable news outlet has stated: ‘The departure of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City has only strengthened their determination to retain the core of their squad, making a January move for Gibbs-White extremely difficult.

‘That, though, is unlikely to deter Tottenham in the longer term.

‘By the January window, Gibbs-White will have just 18 months remaining on his current contract, potentially making his situation increasingly significant as Forest consider their next move.

‘We understand there is already a belief that Forest will look to offer the midfielder another extension.

‘His existing agreement, signed following the Tottenham controversy, was already the most lucrative contract the club had handed to a player.

‘Any new deal would further strengthen Forest’s position, but Spurs remain attentive and believe Gibbs-White is a player worth continuing to pursue.’

After disappointing results in the Premier League, Liverpool and Tottenham now turn their attention to a Carabao Cup clash at Anfield.

Liverpool drew 0-0 at home to Fulham in their last outing, making it three draws from their opening four Premier League games under Andoni Iraola.

Tottenham also drew 0-0 in their home game against Everton and are yet to score a Premier League goal this season, although they did reach this round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 win over Charlton.

Liverpool v Tottenham kick-off time

Liverpool v Tottenham kicks off at 8pm BST on Tuesday, September 15 at Anfield.

Liverpool v Tottenham how to watch

The game will be shown live in the UK via Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and ITV4, with coverage starting from 7pm on Sky and 7.30pm on ITV.

BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT 2 will provide full match commentary.

Liverpool team news

Iraola is likely to rotate his goalkeepers for the cup competitions, so Giorgi Mamardashvili will replace Alisson between the sticks.

He could also make a number of outfield changes following a sluggish display against Fulham.

Wataru Endo is in line to make his first appearance of the season, but it might be at centre-back as Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet look set to sit this one out.

The likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas, Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo may also go in the starting line-up.

Joe Gomez hasn’t featured since sustaining a muscle injury in pre-season, but the defender has been training with the first team and will be in the squad against Tottenham.

Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni all remain sidelined.

Tottenham team news

Roberto De Zerbi has suggested that he will make wholesale changes to his team for this Carabao Cup tie.

Martin Dubravka is expected to make his Tottenham debut, while fellow summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo should start after making a late substitute appearance against Everton.

Marcos Senesi, Lucas Bergvall, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel could also play from the start.

Pedro Porro is out with a small muscle injury, but Destiny Udogie is set to return, so former Liverpool defender Andy Robertson may have to settle for a place on the bench on his return to Anfield.

Sandro Tonali picked up a knock against Everton and won’t play against Liverpool, while Mykhaylo Mudryk, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are also sidelined.

Richarlison saw his proposed move to Vasco da Gama fall through, but De Zerbi has confirmed that the Brazil international won’t be selected.

Liverpool v Tottenham odds

Liverpool are 8/11 to win the game in 90 minutes, while Tottenham are 19/5 to do likewise. The Draw is 10/3.

In the ‘To Qualify’ market, which also brings penalties into play, Liverpool are 2/5 to go through. Tottenham are 23/10 to advance to the fourth round.

Liverpool v Tottenham prediction

Richarlison netted an injury-time equaliser for Tottenham in their last away game against Liverpool back in March.

But before that game Spurs had lost all of their previous four trips to Anfield in all competitions, conceding 17 goals in the process.

They haven’t won at the iconic stadium since May 2011, when goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric gave them a 2-0 victory.

While Liverpool may rest some of their big-name stars, they should have enough strength in depth to get past a Tottenham side bereft of confidence.

With Van Dijk and Jacquet unlikely to play, Spurs may at least get their first away goal of the season. We’re backing Liverpool to win and Both Teams to Score at 21/10.

A 3-1 home win is available at 12/1, while Liverpool are 9/2 to win by a two-goal margin.

Cody Gakpo made a brilliant start to the season before picking up an injury, scoring one goal and registering three assists across three appearances.

The Netherlands international was linked with a move to Tottenham in the summer and has three goals and two assists from his five home games against them. He’s 6/5 to score or assist in this Carabao Cup tie.

Richarlison could still leave Tottenham soon as another transfer option has emerged in recent days, according to reports.

The Brazil international has had several options to leave north London in recent weeks but none of them have materialised so far.

Richarlison was being used by Tottenham in a part-exchange deal to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton but the transfer fell through as the Brazilian couldn’t agree terms with the Toffees.

Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk arrived on loan as Ndiaye eventually signed for Manchester City with Richarlison still looking for a way out.

Super Lig side Trabzonspor have been keen on Richarlison, while there were rumours of strong interest from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama in the Tottenham striker.

Explaining the state of affairs last week, Fabrizio Romano explained: “Guys, at this stage, I’m not aware of anything close between Richarlison and Vasco da Gama.

READ:Good process, occlusion, missing offside lines and missed handballs – the Premier League’s 10 biggest VAR f*ck-ups

“I know there were many questions. Richarlison was close to joining Trabzonspor, but Tottenham rejected all the proposals sent by Trabzonspor. Richarlison agreed terms with Trabzonspor, not with Vasco da Gama.

“Now we will see what happens with his future, because at the moment the relationship with Tottenham looks completely broken.”

And Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has now confirmed that Richarlison “will not play even if he’s available” as the Brazilian still looks for a way out.

De Zerbi said ahead of Tottenham’s Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool: “Nothing has changed.”

Before he added: “I said last press conference. I know what happened in the last 45 days.

“It’s not right if I explained. It’s not my behaviour, the relationship.

READ:Spurs have spent over £300m on this ‘assemblage of fetid horse meat’

“The problem is between the player and the club. I stay within the club. It’s coach and 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.”

Richarlison could still leave Tottenham for Shabab Al-Ahli

But now Richarlison has a new transfer option with our friends at TEAMtalk insisting that the striker ‘could still leave Tottenham Hotspur for a new club, with a move to Dubai emerging as a potential solution’.

The website writes: ‘TEAMtalk can confirm that Shabab Al-Ahli, who contacted Richarlison’s camp several weeks ago to register their interest, remain keen on the Tottenham forward.

‘We understand one major factor could make a move to Dubai particularly attractive to Richarlison – the opportunity to work with Andre Jardine again.’

And Richarlison would be open to the transfer, TEAMtalk continues: ‘TEAMtalk understands the opportunity to reunite with Jardine would appeal strongly to Richarlison, meaning a move to Dubai could now represent his final opportunity to secure regular football before January.’

Tottenham could be forced into a situation where they sack Roberto De Zerbi if Mauricio Pochettino keeps hinting that he wants the job, according to a former Spurs scout.

The north London side have had a nightmare start to the new season after narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of last term.

ENIC jumped into life over the summer with a huge rebuild which saw them spend over £300m on new signings and bring in big-name players like Sandro Tonali.

After back-to-back 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League, Tottenham lost their opening two fixtures of the season to Brentford and Newcastle United before recording consecutive 0-0 draws to put them in, you guessed it, 17th position.

It’s very early in the season, but Tottenham have failed to score a Premier League goal this season, and there is already pressure building on De Zerbi.

Spurs have Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea in their next four Premier League matches and things could get tense if they aren’t in a better position come the end of October.

READ: Good process, occlusion, missing offside lines and missed handballs – the Premier League’s 10 biggest VAR f*ck-ups

When asked “what’s going on at Spurs” on USA Sports, David Ornstein said over the weekend: “It feels like it’s history repeating itself. We’ve just passed the one-year anniversary of Daniel Levy leaving the club after 25 years at the helm and that saw the Lewis family almost reclaim control.

“You could ask what they were doing as ultimate owners in that period – but it set off the most remarkable overhaul we’ve seen in probably modern Premier League history. Where they came along with big promises for more wins, more regularly, huge spending.

“And they’ve certainly embarked upon that. Of course the managerial upheaval at the club led them to Roberto De Zerbi and they went all in on him. A five-year contract, no clause in the event of relegation to depart and a massive salary.

“He’s paid among the very biggest managers in the Premier League and European football. They got going in the market in remarkable fashion, in terms of numbers, in terms of transfer fees, in terms of salaries, which Tottenham had been so spendthrift on in the past.

“At the heart of it was Vinai Venkatesham, the chief executive, Johan Lange, the sporting director. They brought in a director of football operations from Manchester City in Rafael Moersen and also tried to get the former Borussia Dortmund executive Sebastian Kehl to help. That deal fell through but really at the heart of it all has been Roberto De Zerbi.

READ: Spurs have spent over £300m on this ‘assemblage of fetid horse meat’

“They’ve given him power in a way that no Tottenham Hotspur manager has seen before and they rebuilt the defence, the midfield, the attack. It’s a team that looks so different in personnel but at the moment not in results.

“Now it’s going to be a really interesting period ahead based on what they are going to do in the next windows because Peter Charrington, the non-executive chairman, has said it will take multiple transfer windows to get to where they want to be.

“As you said at the top, there’s very little patience, they are asking for time and Roberto De Zerbi will be judged ultimately as the man on the touchline.

“It would be very expensive if they were to part with him but I don’t think that’s on the agenda for now. I think it’s all about him getting results on the pitch and extracting maximum performances after the best part of £400m was spent. Now it’s time to deliver.”

Could Pochettino spell the end for De Zerbi at Tottenham?

Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown – who is still well-connected at the club – insists that ex-boss Pochettino flirting with a return to Spurs could be De Zerbi’s eventual downfall in north London.

Brown told Football Insider: “Mauricio Pochettino has made no secret of the fact he would like to return to Tottenham.

“It feels like he’s been linked with a return ever since he left, every time a Tottenham manager is under pressure it seems he is the name who gets mentioned with the role.

“Coming out and saying again that he would be keen to return, while they’re having a poor start to the season and De Zerbi is under pressure, will only ramp up that pressure.

“Even if it’s unlikely that he could come back at this moment, speaking about the position can change the mood and atmosphere around the club and especially the fans.

“Lots of them will have positive memories about Pochettino’s tenure, and may now be dreaming of him coming back, while De Zerbi continues to struggle for results.

“Then, it build frustrations, that build more pressure, and then eventually the club are forced to make a decision about his future.

“I’m not sure who it serves, making comments about the job and wanting to come back one day, because it certainly doesn’t help De Zerbi and the position he’s in.”

The Carabao Cup cannot be seen as an inconvenience for the needy half of the Big Six, while Sunderland and Bournemouth prepare to embark on a European adventure…

The Carabao Cup third round is big for Liverpool, Spurs and United, while Frank Lampard needs a win, however minor, even more than Unai Emery…

Game to watch – Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs are stuck in a rut. They are yet to score a goal, suffering from a ‘mental block’ and, as Roberto De Zerbi says, “we have not the right physical condition yet”.

De Zerbi’s answer before going to Anfield: “We play with all other players.”

That would make more sense as a long-term solution than an answer to the inconvenience of the Carabao Cup. It would also be easier to understand if those who drew a fourth straight blank against Everton on Saturday did not look in desperate need of more minutes to build familiarity and fitness.

For this, as De Zerbi is at pains to point out, is a new team. Half a dozen starters against the Toffees were summer signings. So for all the reasons the manager has stated, would it not make sense to give this remodelled side as many opportunities as possible to gel and get up to speed?

For the first half-hour on Saturday, that looked to be happening. Spurs played some fast, incisive football but the longer that went unrewarded, they retreated into their shell once more.

Liverpool too have a malaise to shake off. After wins over Ipswich and Atletico, against Fulham on Saturday, the Reds returned to the bad habits that dogged their opening 2-2 draws with Forest and Newcastle to draw for the fourth consecutive time at home in the league.

Andoni Iraola is also likely to make changes after suggesting his forwards in particular “lacked a little bit of freshness”. We’d argue that cohesion and intensity was in even shorter supply, and some of his big-name attackers and his malfunctioning midfield would benefit more from minutes together rather than a rest.

Perhaps self-preservation is a bigger factor than rotation. If either or both manager goes full strength only to exit the Carabao, the criticism grows.

But that will almost certainly happen anyway. Both managers were appointed for their boldness, something De Zerbi especially should remember while following Alvaro Arbeloa’s lead in viewing Anfield as an opportunity to build confidence.

Team to watch – Manchester United

Yes, United were robbed in the derby. But the dubious nature of City’s winner gives the Red Devils an excuse they don’t deserve.

As ever, Michael Carrick’s men looked comfortable when City came on to them. Then, also entirely typical of United, they had no answer when the onus shifted after Phil Foden’s red card.

Carrick accepted that United should have created more but insisted how they might have done that was ‘an answer for us’.

Old Trafford will demand more of an insight when Brighton arrive on Wednesday night. The Seagulls are ominous opponents, having won four of their last five games at what is becoming the AmEx North.

Brighton are also having nothing like the problems with creativity that United are. Fabian Hurzeler’s side are the Premier League’s highest goalscorers and when Lewis Dunk is ripping nets off from 30 yards, United must know to be wary of a Brighton side in their flow.

Stopping the Seagulls is a worry for Carrick given the state of United’s defence but his biggest concern is finding routes to goal. If, as many suspect, Carrick doesn’t have the answer after all, then United are staring at another cup exit to Brighton and a bleak start to a season over which to stew during a three-week international break.

MORE: Premier League sack race: Lampard and Carrick on the move after Super Sunday misery

Manager to watch – Frank Lampard

“We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves,” said Lampard, his and his team’s body language betraying his words during the second half of a 5-0 shellacking at home to Brighton.

Still, apparently, misery loves company so Lampard will be delighted to welcome a manager almost as beleaguered as himself when Unai Emery brings Villa to Coventry in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

At least Emery has a Premier League point and a goal to cling to. Lampard has neither after becoming only the fifth side in top-flight history to lose their opening four games of the league season while also failing to score.

The optimism that Coventry brought to the Premier League as runaway winners of the Championship has almost entirely evaporated and Lampard has it all to do to stop what shreds of confidence remain from disappearing too.

There are some reasons to be positive. Prior to Brighton’s second goal, the Sky Blues were competitive and could have led had they taken their first-half chances. That period and a very encouraging display at Man City the previous week shows Coventry are not necessarily out of their depth.

But the difference in class between where Coventry have come from and where they are now is starkly evident in their lack of ruthlessness. That won’t be helped by Taiwo Awoniyi’s three-match ban.

Lampard has to quickly find a way to instil a cutting edge without Awoniyi against an already-overhauled Villa side sure to feature plenty of changes.

MORE: Coventry suffer Premier League’s ultimate indignity: they are measurably worse than Spurs

Player to watch – Ayyoub Bouaddi

Bouaddi’s first start for Manchester City last week left us and his new team-mates wanting more of the Morocco teenager ahead of the holders’ Carabao Cup clash with Norwich on Thursday.

The 18-year-old was outstanding in the Champions League against Porto, with Enzo Maresca blooding the youngster in a more familiar, continental environment rather than throw him into the cut and thrust of the Premier League.

Norwich’s visit offers Maresca the chance to get Bouaddi more acquainted to English football, with Elliot Anderson entitled to a breather after his man-of-the-match display in the Manchester derby.

In Porto, Bouaddi brought a level of control to City’s midfield that would make you question the date on his birth certificate if he didn’t look so fresh faced. It was evident his senior colleagues trusted him with the ball as they get used to life after Rodri and Bernardo Silva.

Maresca won’t rush Bouaddi but the early signs are he won’t have to.

Europa League game to watch – Sunderland v AZ Alkmaar

Wednesday night sees Sunderland compete in Europe for the first time in 1974, while on Thursday, Bournemouth make their European bow when they take 2,000 to San Sebastian to see their side face Real Sociedad.

As Europa novices, the Black Cats and Bournemouth will have to learn fast how to juggle their domestic and continental commitments, with Manchester City and Liverpool respectively waiting for them next weekend.

Neither, though, should allow that to occupy their thinking while savouring the European stage.

Sunderland certainly cannot be distracted from AZ. The Eredivisie side have won five and drawn one of their domestic league fixtures this season to keep pace with PSV at the top of the table.

There is little prospect of complacency or misplaced priorities, though, ahead of the Stadium of Light’s first-ever European fixture and the first in Sunderland in more than half a century. Having worked so hard last season and waited so long, this is by far the Black Cats’ biggest game in a week they also face Arsenal and City.

Thomas Frank and Match of the Day have been criticised after the former Tottenham boss offered no analysis of Spurs’ draw with Everton on Saturday night.

Frank joined host Kelly Cates and ex-Premier League defender Ashley Williams on Match of the Day seven months after being sacked by Tottenham.

Somewhat surprisingly given the Dane’s presence, Williams focused on the performance of Everton midfielder James Garner while Frank – on the show seven months after being sacked by Tottenham – said nothing.

talkSPORT host Paul Hawksbee believes Match of the Day fell below their high editorial standards by failing to ask Frank about his former side, who have now gone four games at the start of the season without scoring for the first time in their history.

Hawksbee did admit that it may have been Frank who refused to speak about his former employers, in which case he believes he shouldn’t have been asked on the show.

“There seemed to be a real odd abdication of responsibility on Match of the Day the other night,” he said on Hawksbee and Jacobs.

“Thomas Frank was in the studio, and Tottenham v Everton was last. It wasn’t a thriller, but there is a story there… it seemed to be the story everywhere else on planet Earth, that Tottenham haven’t scored, another game they haven’t scored.

“So what they did at the end of Match of the Day, was do an in-depth look at James Garner and his performance, and they never involved Thomas Frank at all.

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“They just said to Ashley, ‘James Garner was good, wasn’t he?’ He said, ‘Yes, he was’, and they showed a few bits.

“He did play well but (Jarrad) Branthwaite, I thought, was their best player, I thought he was brilliant. A, if you were going to single anybody out, it would have been him.

“And B, I just thought Thomas Frank had said, ‘I don’t want to talk about Spurs, especially the way it’s going’… well, don’t be a pundit then!

“I’m sure they will say that wasn’t the case and they’ve been waiting for weeks to do the James Garner deep dive.

“I sat there and thought, ‘Thomas Frank is on, I’d be interested to know what he says’. It was just a cop-out and, editorially, they’re better than that.”