Carabao Cup loophole hands exiled Richarlison his only route back into Spurs' attack

Richarlison could return to competitive action for Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup this week, with the Brazilian forward’s only realistic path back onto the pitch running through a quirk in cup competition rules that bypasses Premier League squad registration requirements.

The 28-year-old was omitted from Roberto De Zerbi’s official 25-man Premier League squad list after the summer transfer window closed, having told the Italian head coach he wanted to leave north London. No suitable move materialised before the deadline, leaving Richarlison frozen out — his last appearance coming as an unused substitute in Spurs’ 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Charlton Athletic on 26 August.

Unlike the Premier League, Carabao Cup regulations do not require players to be registered within a club’s 25-man league squad to be eligible. Any professional player under a valid contract can feature, handing Richarlison a loophole that De Zerbi may now be tempted to exploit as Tottenham prepare to face Liverpool in the midweek fixture.

The timing is significant. Spurs have failed to score in any of their opening four Premier League matches despite a £350 million summer squad overhaul, and a goalless draw against Everton has intensified scrutiny on De Zerbi’s attacking setup. Richarlison finished as the club’s top scorer last season, making his availability — however unconventional the circumstances — a genuine option for a manager running short of them.

With Tottenham absent from European competition this season and the FA Cup third round not beginning until January, the Carabao Cup represents the only competitive stage available to Richarlison before the winter registration window opens. For the player, it is also an opportunity to demonstrate his value ahead of a potential January exit. For De Zerbi, it is a ready-made solution to a problem that has defined Spurs’ early-season struggles.

Whether the manager chooses to reintegrate a player who publicly sought a transfer remains the central question. The rulebook has opened the door; it is now De Zerbi’s call whether to walk through it.