Slot Shares Fresh Injury Hint After Cup Progress at Anfield

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a sobering update on Wataru Endo’s foot injury, confirming the Japan international will be unavailable “for weeks” and almost certainly ruled out until the closing phase of the campaign.

The 32-year-old midfielder sustained the problem during the Reds’ FA Cup fourth-round replay at Sunderland and did not feature in Monday night’s 3-0 fifth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. Goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah sealed progress, yet the win was tempered by the likelihood of an extended lay-off for the club’s No. 3.

“He will not be in the squad next week and he will not be in the squad the next month,” Slot told Liverpoolfc.com after the final whistle. “But we’re hoping towards the end of the season he has a chance to be there with us again.”

The Dutch coach stressed that medical staff are still evaluating the exact severity of the complaint, noting that swelling and pain levels can fluctuate in the days following the initial trauma. “We cannot say exactly how long yet,” Slot added. “Sometimes you need a few more days to see how things develop, and that last thing is with Wata.”

Endo’s setback compounds a season of stop-start involvement for the veteran, who has struggled for consistent minutes even when fit. His absence leaves Slot with limited cover at full-back, a position Endo was asked to occupy during the latter stages of the tie at the Stadium of Light. Jones’ accomplished display in the role against Brighton offered temporary relief, but the manager acknowledged that losing reliable squad members at this stage of the season can quickly upset the balance of the team.

Initial fears over the injury were heightened by the on-field treatment Endo required at Sunderland, with social-media footage suggesting the issue was more than a minor knock. Slot had already prepared supporters for bad news last week, describing the complaint as “clear and obvious that he will be out for quite a long time.”

For now, Liverpool must plan without their Japanese captain, with any optimism pinned on a potential return for the run-in rather than the imminent slate of fixtures.