Liverpool has been dealing with injury issues in recent weeks, with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong out. Things have got worse for the Reds with another player now ruled out with a serious issue.
Liverpool Star Picks Up Injury in Sunderland Win
Arne Slot’s men bounced back from the heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Manchester City on Sunday by beating Sunderland on Wednesday, February 11. The Reds needed just one goal from Virgil van Dijk to seal the win and leave the Stadium of Light with all three points.
However, they had one major concern as well: Wataru Endo’s fitness. The Japanese star slotted in as the make-shift right-back as Dominik Szoboszlai was suspended following his red card against Man City, while their main options, Bradley and Frimpong, are out injured.
Endo twisted his ankle while trying to get to the ball inside the Liverpool box, soon after their goal in the second half. He tried to continue, but had to be stretchered off within minutes as he was unable to walk.
The Reds manager spoke to TNT Sports after the game, confirming that the injury did not look good. He added that the 33-year-old was set to be on the sidelines for some time and said:
“His injury doesn’t look good. I expect him to be out unfortunately for quite a long time again. What a mentality for him as well that things really didn’t look good but he stayed on the pitch and defended one more set piece,” he said, talking about the problems he anticipates.
Slot spoke to the journalists soon after, adding that it was a serious injury and that they will know how long he will be on the sidelines after the scans on Thursday, February 12.
“It’s a serious one. How serious we don’t know yet. He has to be assessed tomorrow. Foot (injury), we don’t know what it is yet, but it will be assessed tomorrow. I assume he will be out for a long time. You can hardly believe what has happened in this right-back position.”
Joe Gomez, who has played at right-back for the Reds, will now be one of the options for Slot in the FA Cup clash against Brighton & Hove Albion and the Premier League clash at Nottingham Forest next weekend, as Szoboszlai’s suspension was just for one match.
