Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sunderland on February 11, 2026, at the Stadium of Light was supposed to be a night of celebration for the Reds. Virgil van Dijk’s towering header in the second half not only clinched three valuable Premier League points but also made Liverpool the first team to topple Sunderland at home this season. Yet, the joy was tempered by a fresh blow in a season already plagued by defensive injuries: Wataru Endo, filling in at right back, was stretchered off with what manager Arne Slot described as a "serious" ankle injury.
Endo’s night started with a sense of responsibility and urgency. Liverpool’s right-back position has become a revolving door this campaign, with first-choice options Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong sidelined by injuries and Dominik Szoboszlai serving a suspension. Even reliable deputy Joe Gomez was only just returning from a hip problem. Slot’s hand was forced, and Endo, a natural defensive midfielder and Japan international, made only his second Premier League start under the Dutch manager—this time in a completely unfamiliar role.
The match itself was a gritty affair, with both teams scrapping for every inch. Endo, playing out of position, showed admirable commitment, repeatedly breaking up Sunderland’s attacks and offering a steady presence despite the mounting pressure. Then, just over 20 minutes from time, disaster struck. While making a crucial clearance at the back post, Endo landed awkwardly on his left ankle. The pain was immediate and severe. He tried to play on, determined to help his team defend a Sunderland corner, but soon went down. Medical staff rushed onto the pitch, applying an inflatable brace to his leg before carefully stretchered him off. The lengthy stoppage was a grim sign for Liverpool supporters.
Joe Gomez, himself only freshly fit after a three-game absence, came on to replace Endo. Liverpool managed to hold firm, with van Dijk’s earlier header proving decisive, but the mood in the away end was noticeably subdued. The win was crucial, but the cost might be even higher as the team’s injury woes show no sign of letting up.
After the match, Arne Slot provided a sobering update. Speaking to TNT Sports, he admitted, "Wataru Endo’s injury doesn’t look good and I expect him to be out for a long time again. What a mentality from him, he stayed on the pitch when things don’t look good. That tells you the mentality the team and him showed today." Slot’s post-match press conference only reinforced the concern. "It is a serious one. How serious, we don’t know yet because it has to be assessed tomorrow. But it doesn’t look good. It’s his foot but if it’s his ankle or his foot, that is what we have to assess tomorrow."
Endo’s injury is particularly alarming given his recent history. Earlier this season, he missed around six weeks with an ankle problem. The prospect of another lengthy layoff is a bitter pill for both player and club. Slot was candid about the situation: "I don’t think we have that many injuries but you notice it earlier with us because our squad is not as deep as some others. His injury does not look good. I expect him to be out for a long time again. In the right full-back position we have had a lot of problems, that is obvious."
Indeed, the right-back conundrum has become symbolic of Liverpool’s broader injury crisis. Endo was the seventh player to start at right back for the club this season, following a string of setbacks to Bradley, Frimpong, Gomez, Szoboszlai, and even Curtis Jones, who has also filled in on the flank. The constant reshuffling has left Liverpool’s defensive line in a perpetual state of flux, testing both the resilience and versatility of Slot’s squad.
Endo’s willingness to soldier on, even briefly, did not go unnoticed. Slot was quick to praise his player’s spirit: "What a mentality of him, things don’t look good but he stays on the pitch to defend one more set piece." That grit, Slot argued, was crucial in securing the win: "I think that tells you all about the mentality the team and he showed today, and that’s why we won the game as well."
The timing couldn’t be worse. Liverpool are set to face Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round on February 15, and Slot has often relied on the domestic cups to rotate his squad and give senior players a breather. With Endo now likely sidelined, the burden on midfielders like Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister will only increase. There may even be a chance for young prospect Trey Nyoni to step up, but realistically, Liverpool’s depth is being stretched to the limit.
The injury list doesn’t end with Endo. Club-record signing Alexander Isak has spent most of the season out with a broken leg, while summer arrival Giovanni Leoni saw his debut campaign cut short by a ruptured ACL. The cumulative effect of these absences has forced Slot into constant tactical improvisation, with the right-back slot becoming a particular headache.
As the dust settled on a hard-earned victory, the focus inevitably shifted from van Dijk’s winning goal to the growing sense of crisis in the Liverpool camp. Endo will undergo scans later in the week to determine the full extent of his injury, but all signs point to a significant spell on the sidelines. Slot summed up the uncertainty: "How serious, we don’t know yet, because it of course has to be assessed tomorrow. But it doesn’t look good. I assume that he will be out for a long, long, long time. And what is long, that’s difficult to say in this moment."
For now, Liverpool fans can take solace in another three points and a resilient team performance. But with the FA Cup and a relentless Premier League schedule looming, the question on everyone’s mind is how much longer the Reds can cope with their ever-growing injury list. Endo’s setback is just the latest twist in a season that continues to test the limits of Arne Slot’s squad depth and tactical ingenuity. As Liverpool prepare for their next challenge, the hope is that the club’s famed fighting spirit will be enough to carry them through yet another storm.
With Endo’s fate hanging in the balance pending further medical assessment, Liverpool’s right-back dilemma remains unsolved. The coming days will reveal just how severe the latest blow is, but one thing is clear: the Reds’ resolve will be tested yet again as they navigate a critical stretch of the season.