**Wataru Endo earned even more adoration from supporters with his warrior-esque response to a nasty injury he suffered against Sunderland.**
The midfielder fought through pain for two minutes before play had to be brought to a halt to allow for the Japanese midfielder to receive treatment, which included painkillers on the pitch before he was stretchered off and into an ambulance.
Liverpool are [reportedly](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-injury-news-isak-endo-33428852) still waiting to learn the exact nature of the injury, as Slot recently offered an update on the 33-year-old.
“We still need to do some assessments but it’s clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time,” Slot said on Friday.
“Don’t forget that he’s a good centre-back and a good midfielder as well. If you look at the number six position or the two centre-back positions, we are quite vulnerable there as well if something happens. Let’s try to make sure the players we have remain fit.”
Wataru Endo injury draws sympathy from Virgil van Dijk, who suffered similar injury
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Van Dijk has been fortunate to remain relatively free of major injuries in his time at Liverpool, bar the ACL tear caused by Jordan Pickford in 2020, but he suffered a similar ankle injury at Southampton in 2018.
Endo’s season is all but over, but he has received encouragement from his skipper to stay positive in his recovery.
_“It’s a shame, we were all really gutted after the \[Sunderland\] game,”_ van Dijk said. _“I had a similar injury when I was at Southampton, a foot injury, and it’s not an easy one to take._
_“But we are here for him, we are going to be together with him all the way and support him with everything he needs. It’s not great, he is such an important and respected member of the team, he’s one of the leaders and he always leads by example as well._
_“On the pitch he gives everything and you saw that in the game. It’s a big blow but we have to deal with it and we will. Hopefully it’s not going to take too long but it looks like it will be a while.”_