Credit: Imago

Aheed Abrar

Fri 13 March 2026 18:10, UK

Tottenham Hotspur will be without Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

The centre-back and the midfielder had a clash of heads at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano as Atletico Madrid beat Spurs 5-2 in the Champions League.

It looks like the concussion protocol will have a drastic effect on Igor Tudor’s team selection at Anfield on 15 March.

Spurs are struggling in the Premier League as they look to avoid relegation, but Romero and Palhinha have now joined a growing list of absentees in North London.

Jamie O’Hara reacts after Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha injury update at Tottenham

Jamie O’Hara isn’t happy with the situation Tottenham find themselves in ahead of the Liverpool fixture.

The former midfielder, who played for Spurs under Harry Redknapp, feels the latest news on the Argentine defender and Bayern Munich loanee sums up the North London outfit’s current situation.

It’s safe to say that the Lilywhites are witnessing unprecedented times as the prospect of relegation looks realistic with nine games to go in the Premier League.

Writing on X on 13 March, O’Hara said, “The fact Romero and Palhinha are out for this weekend completely sums up our season. Absolute disaster from start to finish. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.”

Tudor’s job may be on the line at Anfield, but the Croatian manager certainly isn’t helped by the fact that he’ll be without two more key players.

Micky van de Ven is suspended for the trip to Merseyside after being sent off against Crystal Palace, leaving the former Juventus boss with a dilemma in the backline.

Igor Tudor has one clear defensive choice vs Liverpool

Tudor must go to a back four against Liverpool, with Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin starting alongside Pedro Porro and Djed Spence.

The Croatian manager has preferred playing three centre-backs since taking over from Thomas Frank, but that clearly hasn’t worked for him.

Although Archie Gray can technically play in the backline, it would be better to deploy the youngster in the midfield.

Spurs can’t afford any more slip-ups as they sit one point ahead of 18th-place West Ham United, but fans in N17 won’t have high expectations from the trip to Anfield.