Rodrigo Bentancur injury latest: Tottenham star ‘conscious, talking’ after HORROR injury in semi win over Liverpool
RODRIGO BENTANCUR is in hospital after he suffered a horror injury that left him needing lengthy treatment and oxygen on the pitch.
The Tottenham midfielder appeared to slam into the turf after going for a header at a corner, with his arm also bending the wrong way as he landed.
Following treatment by medics inside the Liverpool box, Bentancur was carried off the pitch after a worrying seven-minute delay - Tottenham later wrote on social media: "We can confirm Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks.";
Spurs went on to record a battling 1-0 win as Lucas Bergvall scored his first goal for the club, while new keeper Antonin Kinsky kept a clean sheet on his debut after being thrown straight into the mix.
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Ange fires back at VAR
Ange Postecoglou is clearly not a big fan of VAR and the introduction of referee's announcing a decision has not swayed his opinion.
He said: "I'm really surprised by how people in this country have let their game be changed. It's been changed so much by VAR. We never used to discuss handling in the box, offside.
"Did everyone really enjoy the announcement, did it give you a buzz?"
'Liverpool punished'
Former Spurs ace Michael Dawson told Sky Sports that Liverpool were 'punished' by Stuart Attwell's decision not to send Lucas Bergvall off.
Speaking after the game, he said: “I don’t think the first one is a yellow card on Luis Diaz.
“He gives the referee a decision to make but the referee got that one wrong.
“On the second one, I have no defence for Bergvall. He lunges and catches Tsimikas and that should’ve been a yellow card.
“Liverpool are certainly punished with that.”
Match report
It was the night when Tottenham’s youth recruitment drive finally started to make sense.
As 18-year-old Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall netted the late winner, his fellow teenager Archie Gray shone in defence and Ange Postecoglou had a rare night of joy and optimism.
Liverpool were fuming that Bergvall was still on the pitch when, on a yellow card for hacking down Luis Diaz, escaped punishment for a late sliding foul on Kostas Tsimikas.
The Reds’ Greek left-back was still off the pitch when Bergvall netted the winner from a slick move.
Spurs now take a slender lead to Anfield for the distant return leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final on February 6.
And Postecoglou’s boast of always winning a trophy in his second season at a club remains on course for fruition.
Momentous occasion
One talking point that will potentially get lost in all of the drama tonight was the momentous VAR/refereeing scenario.
Ruling out Dom Solanke's goal for offside in the second half, Stuart Attwell announced the decision over the speakers to the crowd from the pitch.
If you're a fan of the NFL, you'll know exactly how that looks.
Though they're not usually quite as nervous as he looked delivering his mini-speech.
He said: “After a review, Dominic Solanke was in an offside position in the build-up to the goal, therefore the decision is offside.”
Postecoglou after the match said: "Just get on with the game, mate. It used to be you put your flag up and it's offside."
Slot reacts
Arne Slot reveals Stuart Attwell's decision not to send Lucas Bergvall off had a huge impact on his side losing the game.
He also said Attwell himself must have been concerned to see the Spurs man go on to score the winner.
He told Sky Sports: “I think everyone who stands in front of a camera will say it had a big influence on the game.
“It didn’t feel to me like we were ever going to lose. The decision he made had a huge impact on the result.
“There’s nothing else I can say on that.
“That is a rule I don’t like, if a player gets injured and treatment he has to go off for 30 seconds. I don’t understand why this is necessary.
“Conceding during this time and to the player who should have had a second yellow card is not ideal.
“I think the referee was even thinking ‘is this really happening, with him scoring’.
“The fourth official told me in the tunnel why he didn’t think it was a yellow, then Robbo asked the referee and was told it’s because he didn’t stop a counter attack.
“He could still give a yellow if it’s a reckless challenge but he didn’t see it as reckless, which we can debate.”
Second leg
The daft football schedule means the second legs of these cup competitions won't be for another MONTH.
Liverpool host Spurs on February 6 for a spot at Wembley.
How will these sides look come then?
Interesting...
You always get plenty out Ange Postecoglou.
And he was lively when asked if Bergvall was lucky to stay on, insisting the referee was RIGHT to leave him on.
He told Sky: “Great question – but NO he wasn’t!
“People misinterpret my comments from the other day.
“The rule is, if advantage is played as long as it’s not a cynical tackle then a yellow card isn’t given.”
Postecoglou update on Bentancur
Ange Postecoglou has given a brief update on Rodrigo Bentancur.
He told Sky Sports: “Obviously I don’t have all the information but from my understanding he was conscious when he got to the dressing room.
“We’ve taken him to hospital to get checked over.
“Yeah it was worrying and obviously a concern but from what I know at this stage he’ll hopefully be OK.”
'Couldn't dream it'
Antonín Kinský revealed after the game he's a 'big dreamer' but even he couldn't have dreamt up a debut like tonight.
He also revealed the emotional hug was with his sister, having informed his family yesterday that there was a chance he'd be playing.
Asked by Sky Sports if tonight was one of the best nights of his life, he said: “Yeah definitely. I’m a big dreamer but probably I’ve never dreamt this dream.
“It’s amazing and I’m so happy. All the people have been kind and I’m so happy for the people, the club and myself.
“It was my sister. I told her yesterday there was a possibility I would be playing so she came with her boyfriend and my mum and dad.
“I hope they’re happy and proud.”
Bentancur latest
There's been no more news following the game on Rodrigo Bentancur after his horror injury tonight.
In case you missed it, Spurs revealed at half time the midfielder was "conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks."
Van Dijk reacts
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk reveals what he told Stuart Attwell after the game, having had words with the referee on that Bergvall decision.
He told Sky Sports: “Listen, I think it was quite obvious it should have been a second yellow.
“It was pretty clear and then a minute later he scores the winner.
“It is what it is. He made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. It was obvious.
“There was a linesman there, a fourth official, VAR and a referee.
“It wasn’t the reason we lost the game but it was a big moment.”
Match stats
The numbers from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, showing Liverpool dominating pretty much every single stat.
Except the one that counts at the top of the image.
Some debut
Antonín Kinský jumped the advertising boards and into the crowd for an emotional embrace.
Whoever the young lady was on the other end of his hug was in tears, no doubt bursting with pride at the youngster's debut.
To be thrust in to a game like this, against the top side in European football at present and keep a clean sheet must be more than he could have ever dreamed of.
Really great scenes, and the Spurs fans around them were more than happy to give him an ovation for that showing.
Slot anger
Arne Slot stormed onto the park, shaking hands on the way, before giving the referee team a handshake.
It looked to be relatively tame, before he went back and had another go. He's raging with that Bergvall decision.
He has a point, though Bergvall shouldn't have been booked for the tackle he was booked for.
FT! Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Spurs take a lead to Anfield for the second leg!
90+7 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
No penalty, on-field decision stands.
90+7 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Hang on, they're checking a possible penalty for Liverpool.
Kulusevski on Jones.
90+7 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Spurs defend their box superbly and get the ball clear from two successful balls into the box.
Gravenberch then floats a cross into the box which is straight through to the keeper.
90+6 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold dinks a pass into the box for Salah - who has been anonymous for the entire evening - by Spence beats him to it.
It is nodded behind though as the Reds get a corner and one final chance in this first leg...
90+5 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Diaz skips by Porro down the Liverpool left and gets into the box before chucking himself to ground.
Quite clearly that's not a penalty and VAR agrees with the referee. Poor from Diaz, really poor in fact.
90+4 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
CLOSE FOR LIVERPOOL!
Once again, the Spurs new boy between the sticks delivers! Diaz fires a cross towards the six-yard box and Nunez does well to adjust and get a shot on target, only for Kinsky to beat it away at full stretch.
90+2 - Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold sends a wicked cross in from the right, just begging for Diaz to head home.
He's beaten to it by Porro who takes a bang from the Colombian for his troubles. Goal kick given, though.
90 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Seven minutes added on!
88 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
There was a yellow card flashed at the Liverpool bench, they're absolutely furious he was allowed to stay on the park to score that.
The fourth official getting a right earful.
87 – Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
What a turn of events for Bergvall, who would've been fearing a red card 60 seconds ago, he's now put Spurs in front!
This one will count and it's a long ball into the channel and Solanke bullies Konate, brushing him aside on the right edge of the box.
The England forward then has the presence of mind to wait for options and Bergvall bursts a gut to support and Solanke puts it on a plate for him to pass it firmly into the near post and beyond Alisson.
And Liverpool were down to 10 men as Tsimikas had to go off having had treatment!
Incredible stuff - we should've known it wouldn't end goalless!
