Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Mohammed Kudus is fit enough to make his first start for the club since returning from a long-term injury when Spurs face Liverpool in the EFL Cup tonight.
Kudus has yet to start a match for Tottenham this season after recovering from the injury that ruled him out of Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 25-year-old has made three appearances as a substitute since the start of the 2026/27 season, with De Zerbi carefully managing his return to full fitness.
The Italian tactician believes Kudus has now reached the required physical level to start against Liverpool, although James Maddison is not yet ready to return to the starting line-up.
“Kudus can start because, in terms of his physical condition, he’s better. But James [Maddison] is not yet,” De Zerbi said.
De Zerbi also revealed that Kudus could be deployed in a more advanced role, with his position expected to depend on the tactical demands of the encounter.
“Kudus can play number 10, more offensive. The idea is to use the characteristics of the players in the first eleven,” he added.
Kudus’ potential return to the starting line-up comes at a challenging period for Tottenham, who have won just one of their five matches in all competitions this season.
Their only victory came against Charlton Athletic in the second round of the EFL Cup.
With Liverpool standing in their way, Spurs will be hoping Kudus can provide the attacking quality and creativity needed to secure a positive result and advance to the next stage of the competition.
A start at Anfield would also mark an important milestone in Kudus’ recovery as he continues his gradual return to regular first-team football.
