Arne Slot confirms worst fears as Liverpool star Wataru Endo out for a ‘very long time’

Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo will be out for ‘quite a long time’.

The 33-year-old midfielder suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in the second half of the 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

In his first Premier League start of the season Endo filled in at right-back but had to be replaced after his foot was trapped underneath his body attempting a clearance. The Japan international tried to play on through the pain but soon collapsed to the turf in agony and required oxygen as he was stretchered off the pitch.

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Liverpool have a mounting injury problem at right-back and Slot confirmed that Endo is the latest casualty of the seemingly cursed position in his side.

Speaking ahead of the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Brighton on Saturday, Slot said: “We still need to do some assessment but it is clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time.”

Endo was filling in for Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back after the versatile midfielder was sent off in the defeat against Manchester City on Sunday. Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are also sidelined with injury. Giovani Leoni and Alexander Isak are also long-term injury absentees.

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However there was positive news for Slot as Joe Gomez made his first appearance in three games when he replaced Endo on the right side of the back four.

Slot’s update comes after the Dutchman admitted after the Sunderland win that he was unsure of the extent of Endo’s injury but called the problem ‘serious’.

“How serious we don’t know yet because it still has to be assessed tomorrow, but it doesn’t look good.” the Dutchman added.

“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.”