Tottenham handed major selection blow ahead of Liverpool Premier League clash

Relegation-threatened Spurs travel to Anfield for their next Premier League outing, but will have to contend without one of their most important players following a moment of madness on Thursday

Micky van de Ven is suspended for Tottenham's trip to Liverpool next week

Tottenham Hotspur’s limited selection options have been depleted further ahead of next week’s trip to Liverpool.

The Reds face Wolverhampton Wanderers and Galatasaray in the cup competitions before the clash at Anfield, while Spurs also travel to Atletico Madrid in midweek. And it will do so on the back of another chastening Premier League defeat on Thursday. Tottenham lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace, dragging it further into the relegation picture.

Yet, in the closing stages of the first half, it looked like Spurs’ fortunes were set to change. Dominic Solanake broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when he tapped home from Archie Gray’s excellent cross.

But with five minutes remaining of the half, a rash decision from Micky van de Ven had dire consequences for Tottenham. The defender pulled back Ismaila Sarr inside the box, leaving referee Andy Madley with no option but to point to the spot and show Van de Ven a straight red card.

From there, Tottenham capitulated. Sarr coolly slotted home his penalty before Jorgen Strand Larsen fired in a second a few minutes later.

Sarr added a third in the seventh minute of injury-time, as he fastened onto Adam Wharton’s superb through ball. At half-time, a dejected Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw fans spill out onto the concourse and even into the North London night.

Van De Ven was shown a straight red card in Tottenham's defeat to Crystal Palace

With no goals in the second half, Palace held on to a comfortable 3-1 win, leaving Spurs just a point clear of the relegation zone with nine games of the season remaining.

As for Van de Ven, his punishment continues. The Dutch defender, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months, will now be suspended for the upcoming game at Anfield.

That increases Tottenham’s substantial list of absentees up to 11. Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski all missed the Palace game through injury, while Cristian Romero was suspended.

The Argentinian, who has not played since Thomas Frank’s departure, is eligible to play Liverpool, however.

Tudor replaced Frank last month(Image: Getty Images)

“With all the problems we have now, missing the defenders today, missing the full-backs, these are the problems we already know. We need to stay together now,” said interim coach Igor Tudor after the game.

“I always repeat the same things, but it is how it is. Believing and growing. Do not make mistakes. This is the key in the end of football.

“Stay there, don't make mistakes. One goal, you always score. Two goals, you can score, but it's important to not make mistakes in football.

“Unfortunately, now, in this moment, we pay everything, but in return, I believe, we change everything. Still nine games to play. Still nine games to play.”