Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Richarlison will not feature in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Liverpool, despite the Brazilian striker being eligible to play in the competition.
The decision further underlines Richarlison’s uncertain future at Tottenham after the forward was excluded from the club’s 25-man Premier League squad earlier this month.
Richarlison was reportedly told that he was no longer part of Tottenham’s first-team plans. Although he remained available for the Carabao Cup after failing to secure a move away from the club, De Zerbi has now made it clear that the situation has not changed.
The former Everton striker also rejected a proposed move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama on Friday.
His absence will be notable given his previous record against Liverpool while playing for Tottenham. Richarlison has scored four goals in seven appearances against the Merseyside club for Spurs.
Tottenham will head into the cup fixture with additional pressure after failing to score in the Premier League during the 2026–27 campaign.
Speaking about Richarlison ahead of the Liverpool match, De Zerbi said the striker’s situation remained unchanged regardless of the competition.
The Italian coach explained that he had spoken with Richarlison several times at the beginning of the season and attempted to persuade him to remain at the club.
De Zerbi said he could not disclose details about the disagreement between the player and Tottenham, insisting that the matter was primarily between Richarlison and the club.
He added that his responsibility was to work with the players available to him rather than repeatedly attempting to convince a player to stay.
Richarlison joined Tottenham from Everton in 2022 and has since experienced an inconsistent spell in north London, with injuries and competition for places affecting his involvement.
His exclusion from the Premier League squad and latest omission from the Carabao Cup squad now leave his immediate future at Tottenham increasingly uncertain.
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