Liverpool Football Club has tonight issued a message of support to Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton Wanderers midfielder, who collapsed during the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham on Saturday evening.

The England U21 international, who played in both ties against Liverpool for Bolton this season, left the field on a stretcher after six medics spent 10 minutes trying to resuscitate him. He had earlier collapsed to the ground with no one else around him.

The match was abandoned after the 23-year-old was rushed to hospital in London and at 9.30pm tonight the following statement was released: "Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to The Heart Attack Centre at The London Chest Hospital where he is in a critically ill condition in intensive care. No further information will be issued at this stage. The club and hospital request that the media and public respect the family's privacy at this time."

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre told Liverpoolfc.tv: "The thoughts of everyone at this football club are with Fabrice, his family, friends and teammates. Everyone who was watching the game was shocked and upset by the scenes on the pitch and we all hope he can pull through this terrible ordeal.

"We're all praying for him tonight."