The injury to Wataru Endo has officially moved the needle from “selection headache” to “full-blown crisis” for Liverpool. With the Japan captain joining Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley on the sidelines, Arne Slot is out of natural and even makeshift options.
For 61 minutes at the Stadium of Light, the narrative was one of frustration and a “fortress” that refused to fall.
When Virgil van Dijk finally rose to meet Mohamed Salah’s corner, he didn’t just break the deadlock he shattered a Sunderland record that had stood since the opening day and etched his name into the Liverpool annals as the most prolific defender of the Premier League era.
On any other night, the talk would be of Van Dijk’s enduring brilliance a captain leading from the front as the Red ‘ Champions League pulse began to beat with renewed vigour.
Instead, as the final whistle blew on a gritty 1-0 victory, the celebrations felt hollow. The sight of Wataru Endo being wheeled toward the tunnel, oxygen mask in place and leg in a protective brace, served as a grim reminder that for every step forward Arne Slot’s side takes, the injury curse drags them two steps back.
A captain in a league of his own
Van Dijk’s goal, his 23rd in the league for the club, moves him past the legendary Sami Hyypia. It is a testament to his longevity and his status as the ultimate “big-game” weapon. In a season where Liverpool have often lacked a clinical edge, their No. 4 continues to provide the answers.
But Van Dijk cannot be everywhere at once. He cannot lead the line and play right-back, a position that is rapidly becoming a Bermuda Triangle for Liverpool’s squad depth.
The right-back hex
The irony of Endo’s injury is particularly cruel. The Japan international wasn’t even supposed to be there. He was the “break glass in case of emergency” option, drafted in because Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are already residents of the treatment room.
Even Dominik Szoboszlai, the midfielder who has moonlighted as a defender with surprising aplomb, was unavailable due to suspension.
When Endo’s ankle buckled in the second half, it wasn’t just a player going down; it was a tactical plan collapsing. The 33-year-old had been a picture of selfless professionalism, putting his body on the line to protect a lead in a role he likely never expected to play.
Now, with a serious ankle concern and a World Cup in North America looming like a fading dream, Endo faces the most difficult period of his career.
Slot’s selection headache
Arne Slot is a man who prides himself on control, but he is currently presiding over a chaotic medical department. The update he provided post-match was “grim,” and rightfully so. Liverpool are now heading into a season-defining stretch without a recognised, fit right-back.
The win at Sunderland was historic, yes. To be the first team to leave Wearside with three points this season is no small feat. It keeps the pressure on the top four and proves that this squad possesses the stomach for a fight.
However, as the Reds bus pulled away from the Stadium of Light, the celebratory mood was replaced by a cold reality. Liverpool are winning battles, but with the casualty list growing by the week, the war for Champions League football is becoming an increasingly uphill struggle.
Van Dijk can rewrite the history books all he wants, but unless Slot can find a way to stop the bleeding in his backline, the final chapter of this season remains dangerously unwritten.
