Credit: Imago

James Barker

Mon 23 March 2026 7:10, UK

Richarlison put in a very poor showing in Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The striker returned to the Tottenham squad on Sunday, after not featuring in Spurs’ second leg loss to Atletico Madrid due to suspension.

As such, his previous two performances for the Lilywhites prior to Nottingham Forest had seen him bag an assist in the first leg tie against Atletico, before netting the late equaliser against Liverpool on 15 March.

So, it was hoped that the Brazilian international could reprise his starting role in Igor Tudor’s team in the weekend’s relegation six-pointer in N17.

However, the 28-year-old was not really in the game at all, and was dragged off with just over 20 minutes to play as Forest ran out 3-0 winners.

Richarlison didn’t turn up for Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest

Richarlison has been backed to play a key role for Spurs in their ongoing battle against relegation, as the striker certainly has the ability and pedigree to pull his team out of the mess they’re in.

His nine goals and three assists from 26 Premier League games this season isn’t a bad goal contribution return given the context of Spurs’ season, but in their biggest match of the campaign so far, he went missing.

Tottenham’s number nine only touched the ball 22 times before being taken off in the 67th minute, and was unable to work the goalkeeper with his lone shot on goal being off target.

As per Sofascore, Richarlison was caught offside once, took three unsuccessful touches, gave the ball away 11 times, carried the ball just twice and recorded a passing accuracy of 50 per cent.

He also made zero defensive contributions, won just one of his four aerial duels and two of his five ground duels respectively, and committed one foul.

It was a nothing performance from the Brazilian, in a game that meant everything for his Tottenham side in the context of the relegation battle, as well as the supporters, which makes it that bit tougher to forgive.

Randal Kolo Muani perhaps Tottenham’s big winner from Forest

He may only have came off the bench for a 23-minute cameo, but Randal Kolo Muani was perhaps the Tottenham player that will be the big beneficiary of Spurs’, and in particular Richarlison’s performance.

Tudor – if he’s still in charge on 12 April, that is – will surely drop Richarlison back to the bench for the trip to Sunderland after the international break, and that would likely mean Kolo Muani comes back into the lineup.

The Frenchman got on the scoresheet in the second leg against Atletico, and only needed 15 minutes off the bench against Liverpool to provide the assist for Richarlison’s equaliser.

So, he’s in relatively good goal contribution form at the moment, and with goals now needed more than ever, Kolo Muani might just be a better avenue to them than Richarlison.