Wataru Endo was stretchered off the pitch during Liverpool’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland on Wednesday evening, adding to a mounting injury crisis for Arne Slot’s squad. The Japan international sustained the injury to his left foot during the second half of the match at the Stadium of Light and Slot indicated the injury is “serious,” though the full extent remains unknown pending further assessment.
“It’s a serious one. How serious we don’t know yet because it still has to be assessed tomorrow, but it doesn’t seem good,” Slot said following the match, as reported by Liverpoolfc.com. The manager added that he was unsure whether the injury was to Endo’s ankle or foot specifically.
Endo’s injury represents another setback for Liverpool, who were already without several key players. Alexander Isak, a club-record signing, has been sidelined for much of the season due to injury, including a recent broken leg. Slot has previously expressed confidence that Isak will return before the finish of the 2025-26 season.
Further compounding the team’s woes, centre-back Giovanni Leoni is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear suffered in September 2025, and is not expected to play again this season. Conor Bradley is also out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a significant knee injury against Arsenal in January. Jayden Danns is currently unavailable due to a previous fitness issue, and Stefan Bajcetic continues to struggle with setbacks in his recovery from a long-term injury, having not played in the 2025-26 season.
According to Liverpoolfc.com, Slot stated on January 30th regarding Bajcetic, “He’s not training yet. So, he constantly gets close to the team and then he has a little setback and then comes close and has a little setback, so we’re hoping and expecting to have him very soon, again.” However, Slot also cautioned that managing expectations for Bajcetic’s return is crucial, given the length of his absence.
The injury to Endo leaves Liverpool facing a potential shortage of midfield options as the season progresses. The club has not yet provided a specific timeframe for Endo’s recovery, but initial indications suggest a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines.
