Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0: Bale injury scare as winger is forced off in Baltimore bore draw

Posted Sunday, July 29, 2012 by Dailymail

Andre Villas-Boas was left sweating on the fitness of Gareth Bale after the Tottenham midfielder suffered another fitness scare.

Bale, who has found himself in the spotlight after withdrawing from Team GB’s Olympic bid with a back problem, was substituted at half-time during a 0-0 draw with Liverpool after he was caught on the ankle by a crude challenge from Charlie Adam.

The Wales international was left crumpled in pain after Adam ran his studs down Bale’s ankle as he tried to stop him surging forward. The tackle, which occurred in the 19th minute of their glamour friendly here in Baltimore, provoked a furious response from Villas-Boas and Tottenham’s staff.

Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0: Bale injury scare as winger is forced off in Baltimore bore draw
Knock: Gareth Bale suffered a heavy tackle by Charlie Adam and was substituted at half-time

Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0: Bale injury scare as winger is forced off in Baltimore bore draw
It was the only talking point of a mundane game and Villas-Boas, who already has injury worries over Rafael van der Vaart, Kyle Walker and Scott Parker ahead of his first campaign at White Hart Lane, will be hoping Bale has not suffered any lasting damage.

Liverpool made a bright start in sweltering conditions and they had the first two opportunities of a game that was played out in front of 42,723 crowd; both Joe Cole and Jonjo Shelvey tested Brad Friedel with shots from outside the area.

Yet it was Tottenham who came closest to opening the scoring, when Gylfi Sigurdsson – the man whom Brendan Rodgers wanted to bring to Anfield – slipped in Harry Kane but the young striker dragged his effort just across the face of goal.

The pattern of the contest was disrupted shortly after, though, when Adam tangled with Bale, his ugly tackle leaving the Welshman writhing in agony.

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