Rodrigo Bentancur was carried off on a stretcher(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Rodrigo Bentancur update given after worrying Tottenham vs Liverpool scenes in Carabao Cup tie

by · football.london

Tottenham Hotspur's Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Liverpool was stopped for nearly ten minutes after Rodrigo Bentancur went down during a corner-kick. Bentancur was carried off on a stretcher in worrying scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having moved to head the ball before collapsing to the ground.

Bentancur, who missed Saturday's defeat to Newcastle on Saturday through suspension, returned to the starting XI to face the Reds. He started alongside Lucas Bergvall and Yves Bissouma in a midfield three, with James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr suspended.

However, Bentancur's evening came to an end less than a quarter of an hour in after going down in an off-the-ball incident. From an outswinging Tottenham corner, the Uruguayan tried to head the ball and managed to get the slightest tough on it before collapsing to the floor.

Concerns were immediately raised by both sets of players before medics raced to Bentancur, who was situated on the deck inside the Liverpool box. After Bentancur was treated on the pitch for nine minutes, he was placed on a stretcher before being taken off and down the tunnel.

Spurs, writing on social media platform X, said: "We can confirm Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks."

Ange Postecoglou decided to bring on Brennan Johnson for Bentancur and the Welshman slotted in on the right-hand side, with Dejan Kulusevski dropping down to midfield in the more advanced role. It meant that Bergvall stepped back into a deeper position alongside Bissouma.

After a fast start from Spurs, the nine-minute break appeared to make an impact on both teams. The pace of the match slowed down although Tottenham continued to probe and enjoy sustained spells of possession.

Antonin Kinsky, who was thrown straight into the XI after signing from Slavia Prague over the weekend, looked comfortable on the ball, while Djed Spence and Archie Gray were among those to start well.