adminTottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 win at Villa Park on Sunday evening came at a cost, as Richarlison limped off to hand Roberto De Zerbi another fitness concern in an already difficult season for the north London club.
The Brazilian was one of Spurs’ sharpest attackers in the first half, troubling Aston Villa’s sluggish defence and linking up well with Randal Kolo Muani in the final third.
He also netted what turned out to be the decisive goal—a poacher’s finish that gave Spurs a two-goal lead and silenced the home crowd—before being replaced by Pape Matar Sarr in the second half, visibly struggling as he left the pitch.
The setback will worry De Zerbi, who is already navigating a lengthy injury list as the season enters its final weeks. Xavi Simons is out for the season after rupturing his ACL at Wolves the previous weekend, while Dominic Solanke faces a race against time to play again this campaign after suffering a grade-two hamstring injury in the same match.
Richarlison had filled the void left by those absences, starting and scoring at Villa Park—making his own fitness all the more crucial. With Spurs now 17th on 37 points, one point above West Ham United, who have dropped into the relegation zone, three games remain to secure survival.
Their final opponents are Leeds United, Chelsea, and Everton. If Richarlison’s exit is indeed due to injury, the impact on that run-in could be severe, especially given De Zerbi’s lack of attacking depth.
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