Liverpool injury update: Jeremie Frimpong, Alexander Isak and Wataru Endo latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Defensive injury crisis gets worse for champions after another blow

Liverpool welcomed Joe Gomez back from injury as they beat Sunderland 1-0 on Wednesday, but the Reds suffered a fresh blow in the process.

Arne Slot’s side snapped Sunderland’s 12-match unbeaten streak at home in the Premier League through a second-half header from Virgil van Dijk, with the result moving them to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea as the battle for Champions League places goes on.

The much-needed win in a rainy road game wasn’t without its downsides, though, and Slot confirmed post-match that his defensive crisis is about to get worse with another first-team player set for an extended period on the sidelines.

Jeremie Frimpong

The summer signing has struggled with a series of injuries since his arrival at Anfield.

He hasn’t featured since being withdrawn in the early exchanges of the 6-0 win over Qarabag in the Champions League with a muscle injury.

Slot revealed ahead of the Man City game last weekend that his compatriot would “definitely not train” with his team-mates, and would not be available for City’s visit to Merseyside.

Post-match at Anfield on Sunday, Slot ruled Frimpong as being “for sure” out of the midweek Sunderland game as well, adding: "We knew that when he got injured, it was a few weeks.”

Sidelined: Jeremie Frimpong

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Before Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Newcastle earlier this month, Slot issued a more positive update on the right-back, admitting that while he did not know when exactly Frimpong would return, his issue was not as bad as first feared.

“He is out for a few weeks,” the Liverpool boss said. “But [it's] not as bad as we thought he would be out. It's something positive from something not so positive.”

No update was offered after the Sunderland match on Wednesday, however.

Potential return date: vs Nottingham Forest on February 21 (A)

Wataru Endo

With Dominik Szoboszlai suspended following his red card against Manchester City in the previous game, Frimpong still absent and Gomez initially only deemed fit enough for the bench as he made his comeback from a hip issue, Slot turned to Wataru Endo to fill in at right-back against Sunderland.

The 33-year-old Japan international - a midfielder by trade but one who does have a little experience as a right-sided full-back - didn’t look too out of place, but appeared to get his foot trapped in the turf and landed awkwardly midway through the second half at the Stadium of Light.

He hobbled back up and valiantly defended a Sunderland corner before hitting the ground again, prompting the Reds’ medical staff to rush on and offer him treatment.

An inflatable cast was placed around his lower leg before he was stretchered off in what looked to be a considerable amount of pain. The seemingly fit-again Gomez came on in his place for the remainder of the evening.

Endo was stretchered off at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday

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Speaking post-match, Slot said he expects to be without the versatile squad member for a while.

“His injury doesn’t look good,” the Liverpool boss said. “I expect him to be out, unfortunately, for quite a long time again.”

The exact nature and extent of Endo’s injury, plus a potentially clearer recovery timeline, will likely follow in the coming days or weeks.

Potential return date: Unknown

Conor Bradley

Northern Irish international Bradley was taken off injured during January’s goalless draw at Arsenal and, it has since been revealed, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

He avoided a full-on ACL rupture but did require surgery to repair damaged ligaments, and as such, he will not feature at all for the remainder of the campaign.

A Liverpool statement on the right-back read: “Liverpool FC can confirm Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury.

“The right-back suffered the issue in the latter stages of Thursday night's Premier League fixture away at Arsenal.

“Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre.

“No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process.”

Potential return date: Summer 2026

Alexander Isak

Isak broke his leg after scoring the first goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham before Christmas.

The Swedish international has not played since that game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having suffered the injury in a rough challenge by Micky van de Ven.

Slot dubbed the challenge “reckless”, and he was dealt a major injury blow with Isak fracturing his fibula, having surgery on his ankle and leg.

Potential return date: March 2026

Giovanni Leoni

Another summer signing Leoni will not, however, play for his new side again this term after he tore his ACL on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup back in September.

The Italian defender is out for around a year.

For the season: Giovanni Leoni

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“He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for around a year,” Slot said of the young centre-back.

“Being so young, coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it’s very hard to take the positive side.

“There’s never a positive side but he is still so young so he has many years to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”

Potential return date: September 2026