Liverpool have suffered another major injury crisis, with captain Virgil van Dijk reflecting on the tragic loss of Wataru Endo in his first Premier League start this season.
Virgil van Dijk talks about Wataru Endo’s injury (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Liverpool’s squad is left “really devastated” by the loss of Wataru Endo to a serious injury. Endo sustained a leg injury in last week’s 1-0 win over Sunderland and could miss the rest of the season.
The Japanese representative got his foot caught in the grass while clearing the field and left the field on a stretcher at the Stadium of Light. To make matters even more cruel, Endo was making his first start of the season in the Premier League.
The 33-year-old midfielder was chosen as a replacement at right-back, with Arne Slott left with no other options and specialist right-backs Conor Bradley and Jeremy Frimpong also absent.
Endo has only appeared in 12 games in all competitions for Liverpool this season due to competition for position. However, Liverpool captain Van Dijk said he would be a big miss given his experience and personality in the dressing room.
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“It’s disappointing, we were all really disappointed after the (Sunderland) game,” Van Dijk said. “I had a similar injury when I was at Southampton, a foot injury, and it wasn’t easy.
“But we’re here for him. We’re going to be with him the whole time and support him with everything he needs. It’s not great, but he’s a very important and respected member of the team and one of the leaders, always leading by example.”
“On the pitch he gave his all and you could see it in the game. It’s a big blow, but we have to deal with it and we will. I hope it won’t take too long, but it looks like it will take a while.”
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Wataru Endo carried off on a stretcher during the match against Sunderland (Image: ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Slott has so far been unable to provide many details about when Endo will return. “There’s definitely a chance[Endo can come back before the end of the season]but he’ll be out for a while,” he said after the 3-0 win over Brighton in the FA Cup at the weekend.
“I can’t say exactly how long yet. It depends on the injury. Sometimes we can diagnose right away, sometimes we need a few more days to see how the symptoms progress, and the last one also applies to Wata.”
“But he won’t be in the team next week, he won’t be in the team next month. But we hope that at the end of the season he will have a chance to join the team again. But it depends on the days ahead. Is it broken? We don’t know yet. This is the first lie I’ve told since I’ve been here.”
Endo was joined on the sideline by Stefan Bicetic, Jaden Dans, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni for Sunday’s Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
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