Mohammed Kudus Returns to Tottenham Starting XI in League Cup

Mohammed Kudus finally heard his name in a Tottenham starting XI again in England – and it had been a long time coming.

The Ghanaian forward made his first start for the London club in 257 days, thrown into the intensity of a third-round English League Cup tie against Liverpool at Anfield. It was a bold stage for a return, a night loaded with noise, pressure and little room for rust.

Kudus did not hide. For 75 minutes he buzzed around the final third, constantly involved, always looking for pockets of space. His biggest moment arrived in the 32nd minute, with the game finely poised and Tottenham already chasing.

Spurs trailed 0–1. The chance fell to him at close range, the kind forwards dream about when they are fighting to re-establish themselves. Kudus stepped up – and fired over. Anfield roared with relief. Tottenham’s bench sank back into their seats. It was the kind of miss that lingers in the mind long after the final whistle.

The pressure on Liverpool eased, and the home side grew into their lead. Tottenham pushed, Kudus kept working, but the equaliser never came. The visitors’ gamble on his sharpness almost paid off; almost.

With 15 minutes to go, his night ended. In the 75th minute, the 26-year-old was replaced by new signing Savio, a fresh attacking option sent on as Spurs chased the game. Liverpool, though, tightened their grip and killed off the contest, running out 3–1 winners and sending Tottenham out of the League Cup.

For Spurs, it was another cup campaign cut short. For Kudus, the story felt different.

This start, his first in nearly nine months, carries weight far beyond one missed chance. According to MyJoyOnline, his return to the XI is being watched closely in Ghana, where national team selectors are tracking his minutes and sharpness with growing interest.

Carlos Queiroz is expected to include Kudus in his Ghana squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia. A fit, firing Kudus changes the complexion of that attack, and his appearance at Anfield will be seen as a significant step toward full competitive rhythm.

He left the pitch with his club out of the cup and a clear memory of a chance that got away. But for Ghana, the more important takeaway is simple: Mohammed Kudus is back on the grass, back in the lineup, and back in the conversation.