Liverpool injury crisis gets even worse as Arne Slot offers new update | Football | Sport

Liverpool star Wataru Endo will be sidelined for ‘quite a long time’ after sustaining what looked to be a serious injury against Sunderland. Arne Slot has delivered a worrying update on Endo, 33, following the Japanese captain leaving the pitch on a stretcher during Wednesday’s 1-0 triumph at the Stadium of Light. The midfielder’s foot became trapped in the turf whilst executing a crucial clearance moments after Virgil van Dijk had opened the scoring in the second half.

Endo battled on to help defend the subsequent corner, but he was visibly distressed and broke down in tears as he was placed on a stretcher. It marked Endo’s first Premier League start of the campaign, as he deputised at right-back with Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai unavailable. During his press conference before the Reds’ FA Cup fourth-round clash at home to Brighton on Saturday, Slot was questioned about Endo’s injury.

“We still need to assess but it’s clear and obvious he’s out for quite a long times,” the Liverpool manager responded. “Don’t forget he is a good centre-back and midfielder, too, and it is not as though positions… we’re quite vulnerable there as well.

Immediately after the Sunderland match, Slot characterised Endo’s injury as ‘serious’. “How serious we don’t know yet because it still has to be assessed tomorrow, but it doesn’t look good,” the Dutchman acknowledged.

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“I’m not too sure [if it’s his ankle]. It’s his foot, but if it is his ankle or his foot, that is what we have to assess tomorrow. I assume he will be out for a long, long time. What is long, it is difficult to say at this moment.”

Endo’s injury further exacerbates Liverpool’s growing casualty list. The Japan skipper joins right-backs Frimpong and Conor Bradley in the medical room, along with Stefan Bajcetic, Jayden Danns, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni.

Slot may opt for rotation against Brighton but views the FA Cup as a ‘priority’. “It’s not the first time we’ve had three games in seven days, it’s part of being a top club,” he responded when questioned about squad selection.

“It depends what draw you have, too, and we play a strong Brighton side. They don’t deserve the position they are in, they play so much better than the table shows, they deserve more than they get, so it’s another challenge. It took me a long time before I could fall asleep because I was constantly thinking of the same options: which players, which other players, which positions, so I need another 24 hours.”

Slot added: “We have three clear priorities: FA Cup, Champions League qualification and the Champions League. We’re also aware of the limited options so the load management is important, the last thing we need is another injury, so that is always the tough thing for a manager, to make the best decision every time.

“It wouldn’t be the first time a player gets injured if they have to play three in seven. The most important thing is we train today, listen to the players, see how they feel and make the best decisions.”