Tottenham issue Rodrigo Bentancur injury update as midfielder taken to hospital

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Rodrigo Bentancur was taken to hospital after suffering a head/neck injury against Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

The midfielder was stretchered off inside the first five minutes of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg after landing awkwardly while attempting a stooping-header from a corner.

The match was quickly paused following the injury, with Bentancur receiving oxygen from medical personnel before being stretchered off. After about 10 minutes, play resumed.

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Tottenham said in a statement: "We can confirm Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks." Liverpool replied on X, writing: "We're all thinking of you, Rodrigo. Speedy recovery." Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added a fingers crossed and love heart emoji.

The midfielder received more treatment from the club's own medical staff in the changing room after being stretchered off but was alert and talking having received oxygen while on the pitch.

Bentancur was then taken to a nearby hospital for tests but it remained unclear what caused him to collapse. The match was stopped for approximately nine minutes with team-mate Pedro Porro the first to react to his team-mate's issue.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Michael Brown said on BBC Radio Five Live: "I think those players pretty much know what it is [Bentancur's injury] but then also you've got to try and focus because the game is about to start.

"Things can change very quickly which is when the management team have got to be on point, looking to see what details. Liverpool all around the six-yard area, just waiting but this is a long hold. A huge concern."

It is the second time Bentancur has been taken off with a worrying injury this season, having clashed heads with Leicester's Abdul Fatawu in Spurs' opening Premier League game of the campaign in August.

He has made 20 appearances for Tottenham this season but only recently returned from a seven-game ban issued after he used discriminatory comments against South Korean people when talking about his team-mate Son Heung-min.

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