Liverpool's clash with Tottenham in the Carabao Cup was subject to a lengthy delay in the opening minutes of the match after Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a worrying injury.

Bentancur stooped down low in an attempt to head the ball from a Spurs corner, but after hitting the ground inside Liverpool's penalty area, he did not get back to his feet. There were no players around Bentancur when he went down.

Tottenham teammate Pedro Porro, who had taken the corner, immediately spotted that Bentancur was in trouble and sprinted over to him while signalling for medical assistance.

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Players from both teams then frantically joined in the calls for medics to enter the pitch, and he was tended to for the best part of 10 minutes before being taken off on a stretcher.

Fans of both clubs applauded Bentancur as he was taken off the field, with the thoughts of those in attendance clearly with the Uruguay international.

Sky Sports reporter Peter Smith reported that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou walked over to the stretcher to check on Bentancur, who was wearing an oxygen mask, as he was taken past the two technical areas and down the tunnel.

Spurs' official X account issued a message of support to the midfielder, writing: "We're all with you, Lolo." Welsh winger Brennan Johnson replaced Bentancur, who only recently returned from a seven-match suspension.

Soccer fans on social media issued messages of support to the former Juventus midfielder. One wrote: "Jeez I hope Bentancur is alright. That looks seriously worrying. Something no football fan wants to see regardless who you support. Thoughts with the lad." Another said: "I’ve just seen the replay of Bentancur going down and it looks awful bless him. Really hope he’s okay."

Mark Chapman, who is anchoring Sky Sports' coverage of the match, confirmed at half-time that doctors were still treating Bentancur in the Spurs dressing room during the interval.

Jamie Redknapp, a former player for Liverpool and Tottenham, said: "It makes it difficult for the players, when someone's had an eight-minute injury, it affects the flow of the game."

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was forced to make a substitution of his own during the first half, although in far less concerning circumstances, as Jarell Quansah sustained an injury and was replaced by Wataru Endo.