Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has declared that Mohammed Kudus can start against Liverpool despite returning from a serious quad injury just recently. Kudus played 27 minutes off the bench during Tottenham's 0-0 draw with Everton, and while James Maddison is not yet fit enough to start due to his shoulder fracture recovery, De Zerbi emphasizes cautious management of players like Solanke who have struggled with injuries, praising Solanke's intelligence and potential to return to form.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham Hotspur's manager, provided an update on player fitness ahead of their upcoming match against Liverpool at Anfield. Mohammed Kudus, who recently returned from a serious quad injury that sidelined him for the second half of last season, is deemed fit to start despite being short of full-match readiness after playing 27 minutes off the bench in Tottenham's recent 0-0 draw with Everton. Conversely, James Maddison remains unfit for a starting role despite returning from a shoulder fracture in the same match against Everton. De Zerbi highlighted that the club’s medical team has been cautious with players like Solanke and Maddison, who both missed significant time due to injuries last season. The manager also emphasized his belief in Solanke's potential, predicting he could score up to 10-15 goals this season despite previous struggles with mental health issues related to fitness concerns.
Written for “Tottenham Fitness Update” on 2026-09-15,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 9491 · logged 2026-09-14
Kudus has been eased back to fitness after missing the second half of last season with a serious quad injury.
asserted
Kudus → ease → injury
He was given 27 minutes off the bench as Spurs drew 0-0 at home to Everton over the weekend, and De Zerbi says that, despite being short of full-match fitness, the Ghanaian is ready to start at Anfield.
asserted
Ghanaian → give → Anfield
“Kudus can start, because in terms of physical condition he's better,” De Zerbi said.
asserted
Zerbi → start → condition
De Zerbi also admitted that James Maddison will not be fit enough to start, despite returning from a shoulder fracture against Everton over the weekend.
asserted
Maddison → admit → weekend
The club’s revamped medical department have been cautious with Maddison and striker Dominic Solanke, who both missed extended periods through injury last season.
asserted
who → revamp → injury
“I spoke with him and I would like to manage him in the best way I can.
asserted
I → speak → way
In physical aspect and in mental aspect, because he's a sensitive guy, he needs to feel full confidence and from myself he has big, big confidence,” De Zerbi continued.
asserted
Zerbi → need → confidence
“I believe he can score 10-15 goals for sure.
asserted
he → believe → goals
He's already scored in Bournemouth and why not he can score in Tottenham.
asserted
he → score → Tottenham
It's the same sport, different stadium, no pressure, because in our stadium if we push, if we play well, the fans are with us.
asserted
fans → push → us
“And like all other stadiums, if you lose or if you don't score, you can receive criticism, but it's normal part, it's normal situation in football.
asserted
it → lose → football
Read More
“The attackers are capable to give us quality, because we need qualities, we need talent, we need individual skills, individual qualities.”
asserted
we → read → skills
Kudus can start, because in terms of physical condition he's better
Roberto De Zerbi
Pressed on whether he had described Solanke, who struggled on his return to the starting lineup, as sensitive to criticism, De Zerbi refuted those claims and said it was a reflection of his intelligence.
uncertain
it → start → intelligence
Solanke has struggled with a string of ankle and hamstring injuries in the last year, and De Zerbi said his “sensitive” comments stemmed from the mental obstacles Solanke has had to overcome as he has battled to get fit.
asserted
he → struggle → obstacles
Sensitive because he’s a smart guy.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“Maybe many injuries, maybe he doesn’t feel in the best physical condition.
asserted
he → feel → condition
Maybe he would like to do something different on the pitch.
asserted
he → like → pitch
“But now he’s not fit yet.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
His physical condition is good, but he has to play.
asserted
he → have → ?
“Tomorrow I would like to play part of the game.
asserted
I → like → game
I don’t know if at the beginning or at the end, but one part of the game.
asserted
I → know → game
And then I think he comes back the player who was in Bournemouth.
asserted
who → think → Bournemouth
“I remember Brighton-Bournemouth in the Amex Stadium, he was incredible.
asserted
he → remember → Stadium
I said to my assistant, ‘Who is this striker?’
asserted
Who → say → assistant
“My challenge is to help him and to put him in the right condition to score.
asserted
challenge → help → condition
Better assistance, for sure, improvement in his physical condition and then the striker we already have in the squad.”
asserted
we → have → squad
The Aporia
