The Japan international was starting his first Premier League game of the season but had to be replaced in the second half of Liverpool's midweek trip to Sunderland
21:47, 11 Feb 2026Updated 22:09, 11 Feb 2026
Wataru Endo appeared to suffer a serious injury in the second half of Liverpool's Premier League encounter against Sunderland on Wednesday, which resulted in him being stretched off.
The 33-year-old, who was starting his first Premier League match of the season, slid in to clear a dangerous Sunderland cross midway through the second half, and got his ankle stuck in the ground after making contract with the ball.
Endo initially tried to continue and was back on his feet within a minute of the incident to help Liverpool defend a corner, but he soon dropped to the turf. Eventually, a stretcher was called for, with Endo in clear pain.
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"It looked a bad one. He is a tough cookie for getting up and sticking at it when the corner came in. It doesn't look good," said Joe Cole, on TNT Sports punditry duty.
Joe Gomez replaced the midfielder, who was starting at right-back given the club's selection issues in that position.
Conor Bradley will not play again this season, Jeremie Frimpong is currently absent with his third injury of the season, while Gomez only returned on Wednesday from a three-match lay-off.
Wataru Endo appears in serious discomfort after suffering the injury
Wataru Endo appears in serious discomfort after suffering the injury
Dominik Szoboszlai has been deployed as a makeshift right-back for much of the season, but his red card and subsequent suspension meant Slot was forced to turn to Endo.
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His injury amplifies the already fraught injury situation at Anfield. The Reds are also without Bradley, Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak at present.
It was also an unfortunate end to the night for Endo who has had to be patient for minutes in the Premier League. He has started just twice in the league under Slot, while both of his previous starts this starts this campaign have come in the Carabao Cup.