Son Heung-min misses fourth consecutive match as Tottenham faces Liverpool

Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) will not return this time either. Despite the team's extreme slump, it has been confirmed that he will miss his fourth consecutive match.

Tottenham announced on the 26th (Korea time) through the club's official website that "Manager Ange Postecoglou reported that Son Heung-min is 'not ready' to play in the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Son is still recovering from a foot injury that caused him to miss the last three games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Nottingham Forest."

Tottenham will face Liverpool in the 34th round of the 2024-2025 season Premier League away match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on the 28th. This is a match in which Liverpool can secure the championship. Liverpool will secure the title if they earn just one point against Tottenham, regardless of the results of the remaining matches.

Tottenham may want to postpone Liverpool's celebration, but they must play without Son Heung-min. Manager Postecoglou said, "There are no major changes to the squad. All players finished the Nottingham match safely. The only player in rehabilitation is Son Heung-min. He is improving, but he is not ready to play in the Sunday match."

He also noted, "Once again, Thursday's UEFA Europa League match is certainly an important day for us. Therefore, it is vital to manage a few players who need playing time and a few who need rest. We will pay attention to that," indicating some rotation.

He stated that the focus will be entirely on the upcoming clash against Bodo/Glimt (Norway) in the UEFA Europa League semifinals. Tottenham will host Bodo at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first leg of the semifinal on the 2nd of next month.

Tottenham, having a disastrous season, is focusing on the UEFA Europa League, where their hopes for victory still remain. They are currently in 16th place after losing 18 of 33 matches in the Premier League. If they lose just two more games, they will record the first 20 losses in the club's history since the inception of the Premier League, but they have no choice.

This is why Manager Postecoglou is being extra cautious with Son Heung-min. In a pre-match press conference, he said, "There are no other injury issues. The only player is Son Heung-min. He is trying to get back to playing. Positively, he is improving, but he cannot play on Sunday (against Liverpool). The rest of the squad, excluding long-term injured players, is in good physical condition and available for selection."

Whether he will play in the Bodo match remains uncertain. Manager Postecoglou said, "Let's wait and see. Son Heung-min is improving. He stepped on the grass for the first time today. He said he feels much better than before. He is getting better every day," adding, "Both rest and treatment are needed. The foot is the area where weight is placed. The most important thing is to keep the foot from being used for a week so that the recovery process can begin."

Son Heung-min's injury is taking longer to heal than initially expected. Until the Wolverhampton match, he was expected to accompany the team for the match against Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg. The 'Premier League injury' prediction also suggested that he would return for the match against Frankfurt, and local British media, including 'Standard,' shared similar views.

However, Son Heung-min could not even sit on the bench during the Nottingham match on the 22nd and had to watch his teammates lose. This was to be expected. Before the match, Manager Postecoglou explained, "Son Heung-min has been dealing with foot issues for a while. Therefore, I judged that now is the best time to give him an appropriate amount of time to recover."

He further stated, "Son Heung-min will definitely miss the Nottingham match. His condition has worsened instead of improved. Since rest is the most important factor in this type of injury, I will give him some time. Son always wants to train. But I plan to let him rest for a few days and monitor his situation," expressing concern.

Fortunately, Son Heung-min appears to be recovering well from his injury, but it is uncertain whether he can return in time for the crucial match against Bodo. Dr. Rajpal Brar, a sports physiotherapist and rehabilitation expert, pointed out, "The foot is the area that bears the most load. Even minor injuries can often have complicated prognoses. Son Heung-min's playing time depends on how well the treatment and recovery go."

For Tottenham to escape from their 17-year trophy drought, a quick recovery for Son Heung-min is crucial. Since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season, Tottenham has not lifted a trophy even once. Despite playing for a decade at Tottenham, Son still has no career titles. This is why this UEFA Europa League is such a valuable opportunity for both Tottenham and Son.

However, if Son Heung-min is absent, Tottenham's attacking force will significantly weaken. While it is true that Son, who is approaching 33, has been underperforming due to a hamstring injury, he remains a key asset for the team. This season, he has recorded 11 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, leading the team in offensive contributions.

On the bright side for Tottenham, Bodo is suffering from a much larger player depletion. Captain Patrick Berg, midfielder Håkon Evjen, and forward Andreas Helmersén, who scored against Lazio, will all miss the first leg due to accumulated yellow cards and suspensions. Additionally, regular winger Ole Blomberg was seen being carried off on crutches after injuring his ankle during a match.

Tottenham fan community 'Spurs Web' noted, "Bodo is suffering from injuries and suspensions ahead of their clash with Tottenham. Tottenham knows that winning three more times will secure them the UEFA Europa League title. They may have already gained timely momentum ahead of the first leg." If Tottenham fails to win at home even without Son Heung-min, they could be considered unworthy of reaching the finals.

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