Joe Gomez Returns for Liverpool's Carabao Cup Tie Against Tottenham

Joe Gomez is back. And just in time for Anfield under the lights.

Liverpool’s England international defender has been passed fit for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Tottenham, ending a frustrating spell on the sidelines after a muscle strain picked up in July.

Manager Andoni Iraola confirmed on Monday that Gomez is in contention at last.

“Joe is training with the team and is available for tomorrow. It's a matter of deciding how much he can play," the Spaniard said, underlining that the decision now is about minutes, not medical clearance.

Gomez returns, Mamardashvili starts

Gomez’s comeback is not the only significant tweak. Iraola has already made one big call: Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal, with Alisson Becker stepping aside for the cup tie.

The change in net is part of a wider reshuffle. Iraola made it clear that this will not be a token rotation but a genuine opportunity for fresh faces.

“We will see tomorrow players we haven't seen,” he hinted, pointing towards a very different Liverpool XI from the weekend.

Chance knocks for Endo and the kids

That line will have pricked up ears in the dressing room, especially for Wataru Endo. The Japan midfielder has yet to play a single minute this season, restricted so far to watching on as an unused substitute. This competition, this round, feels tailor-made for his first real involvement.

Youth could also take centre stage.

Rio Ngumoha is pushing for a start after coming off the bench against Fulham, and he is not alone. Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas are both in the frame for their first starts of the campaign after recent cameo roles. If Iraola leans into the club’s next generation, Anfield may get a long look at the future on Tuesday night.

Or a night for the new signings?

There is another route. If the head coach decides experience and rhythm matter more than auditions, some of his newer signings could be asked to go again.

Bradley Barcola is the standout example. The forward is in line to make his third start in a week, a sign of how quickly he has been trusted if Iraola turns to him once more. The schedule is intense, but so is the need to build understanding and sharpness in attack.

Isak leads the line, injuries bite

Up front, the options are thinner.

With Hugo Ekitike still out injured, Alexander Isak stands as Liverpool’s only senior centre-forward. Cody Gakpo can operate through the middle if required, but in terms of out-and-out strikers, the responsibility falls heavily on Isak’s shoulders.

The injury list stretches further. Ekitike is joined on the sidelines by Leoni, Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa. Bradley has at least taken a small but important step forward, with Iraola revealing the full-back has started working with the ball again after knee surgery. He will not feature on Tuesday, yet the recovery is moving.

How Liverpool could line up

All signs point towards a bold, attacking 4-2-3-1, with a blend of established names and those desperate to stake a claim.

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Araujo, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Endo; Ngumoha, Nyoni, Munoz; Isak.

Kick-off is set for 8pm BST on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Anfield. A returning Gomez, a reshaped XI, and a cup tie against Tottenham under the floodlights: it’s exactly the kind of night that can tilt a season’s momentum.