Kudus Returns to Tottenham XI After 257 Days – Liverpool Ends Cup Run

Mohammed Kudus finally heard his name read out in a Tottenham starting XI again. Two hundred and fifty-seven days since his last start in England, the Ghanaian forward walked out at Anfield for a third‑round English League Cup tie that offered both a personal restart and a brutal examination.

It was exactly that.

Tottenham fell behind early and spent much of the first half chasing red shirts and the game. Kudus, 26, refused to hide. He drifted into pockets, demanded the ball, and tried to knit attacks together as Spurs searched for a way back.

Then came his moment.

With Liverpool 1–0 up in the 32nd minute, the chance he had been waiting for arrived. Kudus found space in the box and the ball broke kindly. From close range, with the away end holding its breath, he leaned over the effort and drove it… over the bar. A huge opening, gone in a heartbeat.

The miss stung. Tottenham stayed in the contest, but Liverpool kept their grip. As the minutes ticked by, the home side’s control grew, and the London club’s need for a spark became more desperate.

By the 75th minute, the gamble was over. Kudus, having emptied the tank in his first start back, made way for new signing Savio. The substitution underlined the story of his night: plenty of running, flashes of threat, but no decisive touch.

Liverpool did what Liverpool do at Anfield. They tightened their hold on the tie, added to their lead, and closed out a 3–1 win that dumped Tottenham out of the competition.

A Timely Reminder for Ghana

The result ends Spurs’ League Cup hopes, but Kudus’ return to the lineup carries weight beyond North London.

After months without a start in England, 75 competitive minutes in one of the toughest arenas in Europe will not go unnoticed in Accra. MyJoyOnline reports that Kudus is expected to be named in Carlos Queiroz’s Ghana squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia.

For the Black Stars, the sight of Kudus back in a starting XI, sharp enough to carve out chances even if he could not finish them, is an encouraging sign. The cup run is over for Tottenham.

For Ghana, his season might just be getting started.