Injury Concerns for Wataru Endo Amid Liverpool’s Victory

omidbasir- Arne Slot has indicated that midfielder Wataru Endo may be sidelined for an extended period following a serious ankle injury sustained during Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland.

Endo was stretchered off the field at the Stadium of Light during the second half after it appeared his foot became caught in the turf. Having begun the match in a right-back position, he joins fellow players Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, both of whom are also currently injured in that role.

“Yes, it is a serious injury, but we do not yet know the extent of it,” Slot commented. “It will be assessed tomorrow, but the initial signs are not promising. I am uncertain whether it is his ankle or foot, but if it is indeed an ankle injury, we will need to evaluate it further. I anticipate that he will be out for a long time. The definition of ‘long’ is hard to specify at this moment, but it’s difficult to believe the challenges we’ve faced with our right-back position this season.”

Liverpool’s win over Sunderland has brought them within three points of fourth-placed Manchester United. Slot commended the resilience displayed by his team in becoming the first to defeat Sunderland at home in the Premier League this season.

“We had the clearest opportunity in extra time with Mo Salah,” the Liverpool manager noted. “However, I am satisfied with our defensive performance; there were several moments where we had to put our bodies on the line.

“I want to highlight Wata [Endo] for continuing to play despite his injury and for challenging in crucial duels. That mentality was evident throughout the entire team. Ibou [Konaté] had an excellent game, Mo worked hard, and Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] made vital tackles.

“It was also incredibly beneficial to have our fans so vocal; this stadium is renowned for its home support, but our away fans were particularly impressive, especially in the final 20 minutes when the team needed their encouragement.

“Perhaps they felt that we had experienced difficulties in closing out games previously, and this time they believed it was up to them to support the team. Their support made a significant difference, and I hope that every time we take the lead, whether at home or away, our fans can continue to be this supportive.”