Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero will miss Sunday's game against Liverpool and is expected to be out until after the World Cup.
Confirmation of Romero's absence this weekend comes as another blow to Antonio Conte's side, who will be without for key players when they host the Reds. Argentina international Romero has missed three of Spurs' last four fixtures with a calf problem, but is hoping to be fit in time for his country's World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia on November 22.
After deciding to start the centre-back in his side's Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon last week, Conte admitted he took a 'big big risk' before leaving him out for last week's trip to Bournemouth and Tuesday's win over Marseille. He is now not expected to feature again before flying to Qatar, meaning he will miss the crucial visit of Liverpool on Sunday.
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The news is yet another blow for Conte, who has seen his side ripped apart by a number of injuries to key players in recent weeks. It was confirmed earlier this week that Son Heung-Min will need surgery on a fractured eye socket sustained during Tottenham's midweek game in France. The Italian manager will also be without fellow forwards Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison as they nurse their own respective injuries.
Swedish winger Kulusevski has been sidelined since a hamstring problem picked up on international duty in September, while Richarlison is yet to join first-team training after a calf strain. Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also looked to be struggling towards the latter stages of Tuesday's win over Marseille, and Conte is expected to provide a fitness update on his squad later today.
Liverpool can propel themselves into seventh, five points off the top-four if they win in London and results elsewhere go their way.
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