Ange Postecoglou is dealing with an injury crisis ahead of the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

Spurs approach the game on the back of a woeful run of form and have failed to win any of the last four matches. A 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday means Tottenham is sitting 11th in the Premier League table.

While Postecoglou’s style has drawn criticism, the former Celtic manager has not been helped by the number of injuries and a recent illness outbreak. Radu Dragusin was the latest to succumb to the latter and had to be replaced at half-time against Newcastle.

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With Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies injured, it means Spurs played the second half at the weekend without a recognised center-back. Archie Gray has filled in at the heart of defence over recent weeks, but Postecoglou revealed after the loss to Eddie Howe’s side that he has also been struggling with illness.

The bug kept Fraser Forster out of the game altogether and with first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario injured, it meant Brandon Austin had to deputise in nets, and may be forced to do so again against Liverpool on Wednesday.

Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert are definitely ruled out of the match, but Mickey Moore and Richarlison could be in line to return if they have recovered from injury in time. "At this stage, Richy and Mikey Moore are the two next cabs off the rank, hopefully next week at some point,” said Postecoglou ahead of the Newcastle game.

It brings the number of possible or confirmed absentees up to 10 for Spurs - which is far from ideal ahead of a clash with Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

The Reds won 6-3 when the sides met just over two weeks ago and a similar scoreline in the semi-final first leg would be welcome on Wednesday night. The sides lock horns in the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this week, with the return fixture at Anfield not set to be played until 6 February.

Slot could also make wholesale changes for the game given the hectic fixture schedule. The likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Watru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa are likely to be handed minutes in some form on Wednesday night. Joe Gomez is the only player ruled out through injury, in stark contrast to the situation at Spurs.