Arne Slot issues worrying Wataru Endo injury update as Liverpool issues mount

The Japan captain was the latest Liverpool player to pick up an injury, after he landed awkwardly on his ankle in the second half of the Reds' 1-0 win over Sunderland

Arne Slot admitted Wataru Endo appeared to suffered a serious injury in Liverpool's win over Sunderland

Arne Slot has admitted he expects Wataru Endo to be absent for "for quite a long time" following the ankle injury he suffered at Sunderland.

The Liverpool midfielder landed awkwardly after clearly a Sunderland cross midway through the second half of the Reds' 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light, and despite initially attempting to continue, Endo had to stretchered off.

Speaking after the game, Slot revealed it looks like a serious injury. "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," he told TNT Sports.

"But his injury doesn’t look good. I expect him to be out, unfortunately, for quite a long time again."

Endo was starting just his second Premier League game under Slot, and third of the campaign in all competitions. The Japan captain was drafted in given the Reds' right-back woes, with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong injured.

Dominik Szoboszlai was suspended following his red card against Manchester City on Sunday, and Joe Gomez has only just recovered from a hip problem. In fact, it was the experienced defender who replaced Endo at the Stadium of Light.

"On the right full-back position, we have had a lot of problems, that is obvious," Slot acknowledged.

"What a mentality from him because when things really don’t look good, he stayed on the pitch and defended one more set-piece. That tells you all about the mentality of the team. That showed today and that is why we won the game today."

On the win, Slot added: "In almost all the things we did, we did really well. We had to defend a lot of long balls, a lot of set-pieces, and I think we did this really well.

"We won a lot second balls and on the ball we were very good. The only thing I can maybe be not so positive about if you generate so many chances, you should score more than one goal. But today this was enough because we defended very well in all phases of the game."

The win saw Liverpool close the gap to Manchester United and Chelsea to three and two points respectively in the top-five race.

"If you play for Liverpool or if you manage Liverpool, every game is a must-win, so that doesn't change at all," Slot said.

"So last season, when we were on top of the league, it felt every time we needed to win and now we're in this position, we feel the same, but that's the pressure you should embrace and accept if you're playing for Liverpool, otherwise you're in the wrong place."