'Vulnerable' Liverpool handed major injury blow as Arne Slot issues Wataru Endo latest | OneFootball

Full-back injury crisis deepened in midweek

Liverpool have been handed a major injury blow after Arne Slot issued an update on Wataru Endo.

The Japanese international was stretched off in the 1-0 win over Sunderland after making a clearance.

Dominik Szboszlai, a natural midfielder, had been the go-to deputy in that position, but was serving a suspension at the Stadium of Light after his controversial red card late on against Manchester City.

Ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup clash with Brighton on Saturday, Slot confirmed that Endo’s injury was as bad as it seemed.

“We still need to do some assessment but it is clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time,” Slot said.

“He is a good centre-back and midfielder as well. In those positions, we are quite vulnerable over there as well if something happens.”

After the victory on Wearside, Slot was unsure as to what part of his body Endo had injured.

"I'm not too sure [if it's his ankle],” he said.

“It's his foot, but if it is his ankle or his foot, that is what we have to assess tomorrow.

“You can hardly believe what this right full-back position brings us this season."

Liverpool will be able to welcome Szboszlai back into the side this weekend with his suspension up, while midfielder Curtis Jones has also filled in at right full-back in recent times.

Joe Gomez, Slot’s only fit back-up central defender to Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, returned to action off the bench against Sunderland, having recovered from a groin injury.

He replaced Endo at right-back and could start in that position on Saturday.

"The load management is important because the last thing we could use right now is another injury,” Slot continued.

"That is always the difficult balance for the manager, including his medical staff. What is the best decision to make every single time? It is also true that a player could get injured if he has to play three games in seven days.

“But it also happened many times that a player could play three games in seven days.

"So that's the challenge we are having, but the most important thing is we have to train today, see how the players are doing, listen to how they feel and then make the best possible decision."