Rui Patricio: Wolves keeper 'going to be OK' after head injury - Nuno Espirito Santo

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Media caption,

Wolves 0-1 Liverpool: Patricio 'is OK' - Nuno

Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio will be reviewed on Tuesday after his head injury against Liverpool.

Patricio was taken off on a stretcher after a 15-minute delay following a collision with his captain Conor Coady near the end of Wolves' 1-0 defeat.

BBC Sport understands Patricio was driven home by a physio and was chatty and relaxed when he left the stadium.

After the match, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said the Portuguese, 33, was "conscious" and "going to be OK".

He is still being closely monitored and the normal post-concussion protocols will be followed.

Wolves do not have another game until their Premier League encounter with West Ham on 5 April, although it was anticipated Patricio would be involved in Portugal's games during this month's international break.

Wolves forward Raul Jimenez, in the stands at Molineux on Monday, fractured his skull against Arsenal in November.

"Rui Patricio is OK," Nuno told BBC Sport.

"He's conscious, he's aware and he remembers what happened.

"The assessment is positive - he's going to be OK."

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah had an effort ruled out for offside towards the end of the Premier League match and, as Patricio tried to prevent the Egyptian from scoring, his head collided with Coady's knee.

The flag was not raised until after Salah had scored from an offside position, but it is unclear whether an earlier decision would have prevented the collision.

Analysis

Lee Probert, former Premier League referee

Patricio's injury has only added to the ongoing debate around the impact delaying the offside flag has had on football, and in particular on player welfare.

Many experienced referees would probably prefer things to revert back to how they were because you go into every match with the aim of bringing it to a safe conclusion.

As the law stands, the correct interpretation and process were used on Monday evening but logic dictates that the longer you wait to flag for an offside the more chance there is of someone picking up an unnecessary injury.

'Offside rule is a decision all of us are questioning'

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Rui Patricio was carried off on a stretcher after a 15-minute delay at Molineux

John Ruddy was brought on as a concussion substitute after Patricio was treated on the pitch.

"Concussion, when it's something so serious, you always get worried," added Nuno.

"It can happen in football. He's OK. We have to be aware of the right measures. He's in good hands."

When asked about the offside flag staying down, Nuno said: "It's one of the situations that all of us are questioning.

"But the law is clear. The referees keep the flag down and play to the whistle. Situations will happen. This won't be the only time."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said the offside law "needed to be looked at".

Patricio, who has 92 caps for Portugal, has started all but one of Wolves' Premier League games since joining from Sporting Lisbon before the 2018-19 season.

Jimenez needed surgery after a clash of heads with Gunners defender David Luiz.

Nuno said he does not have a date for the Mexico striker's return and "cannot rush things".

"He's training, not too involved - he must avoid contact," he added.

"Hopefully we'll still have him this season but we have to be patient."

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