Martin Skrtel was carried off on a stretcher early on in Liverpool 's FA Cup quarter-final against Blackburn , after landing awkwardly on his head . The Slovakian defender needed eight minutes of treatment on the pitch , and was carried away wearing a neck brace and has been taken to hospital as a precaution . Skrtel landed on his head after being caught in the face by an innocuous-looking challenge from Rudy Gestede in just the second minute of the game . VIDEO Scroll down to see Brendan Rodgers give an update on Skrtel 's conditionÂ . Martin Skrtel was knocked unconscious after falling awkwardly following a challenge with Rudy Gestede .
Martin Skrtel clashes with Rudy defenders in the air in second minute . punches landed on his head and appeared to regain consciousness . But after recovering Skrtel gave himself up from the injury .