Tottenham Hotspur, under manager Roberto De Zerbi, are still searching for their first Premier League goal of the season after four matches. They join Coventry City as the only two sides in the league yet to find the back of the net.
Despite a substantial investment of £320m in new talent, much of it in attacking reinforcements, Spurs have struggled to convert their build-up play into goals. De Zerbi's tactical approach, which involves enticing opponents to press before exploiting spaces with quick, direct play, has been evident but is yet to yield goals.
The return of James Maddison from a shoulder injury in Tuesday's Carabao Cup match against Liverpool is anticipated to provide a player better suited to operating in tight central spaces, potentially helping Spurs create more attacking opportunities. Similarly, Pedro Porro's return and his natural tendencies, which align with De Zerbi's tactics, may also contribute to increased goalscoring chances.
However, players are still adapting to De Zerbi's unorthodox style, which encourages playing in congested central areas, a departure from previous coaching methods. A key challenge identified is a reluctance among players to execute riskier through balls, despite good attacking runs from players like Omar Marmoush.