Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided an update on the potential length of Wataru Endo’s absence, following his injury against Sunderland.
The popular Reds ace was sadly stretchered off at the Stadium of Light, twice going down in agony soon after Virgil van Dijk had opened the scoring.
After the 1-0 win over Sunderland, reliable journalist Paul Gorst claimed it was a “serious” injury for Endo, as yet another right-back option suffered a fitness issue.
Now, Slot has given a further update on the Japanese to reporters, echoing Gorst’s opinion and confirming that his midfielder has suffered a worrying foot issue:
“A foot injury. We still need to do some assessments but it’s clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time.”
Has Endo played his final game for Liverpool?
It was so sad to see Endo being carried off at Sunderland, with the veteran such an admired squad player who seems popular with his teammates.
He was doing an excellent job in a rare right-back role against the Black Cats, only to be struck down by the injury curse just as he enjoyed some minutes.
The severity of Endo’s injury not only means that his World Cup chances could be under threat – he is the captain of his national team – but he may also have played his final game for Liverpool.
There was no guarantee that he would be a Reds player at the start of next season, even before his injury, but it now arguably feels less likely, with his current deal expiring in 2027.
If Endo does leave, he will depart as a much-loved figure among Liverpool fans, winning the Premier League title last season and being hailed by Jurgen Klopp in the past:
“We see him every day in training and he is one of the hardest-working people I ever met. It was always clear that it will be good, but I’m happy obviously for him that the public could see it now as well, because that’s pretty helpful in our job.”
Hopefully, Endo’s injury is not as serious as is currently feared, and he features again this season, but it doesn’t look encouraging as things stand.