Virgil van Dijk 'gutted' as Liverpool suffer significant injury blow
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Liverpool Suffer Significant Injury Blow as Wataru Endo Stretchered Off
Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Sunderland on February 11, 2026, was overshadowed by a serious injury to midfielder Wataru Endo, who was playing out of position at right back. Virgil van Dijk's towering header secured three valuable Premier League points and made Liverpool the first team to defeat Sunderland at home this season, but the celebration was dampened by the injury blow.
Just over 20 minutes from the end, Endo landed awkwardly on his left ankle while making a crucial clearance at the back post. The injury appeared severe, with medical staff immediately rushing onto the pitch to apply an inflatable brace before carefully stretchering him off. The lengthy stoppage signaled the seriousness of the incident to Liverpool supporters.
Manager Arne Slot expressed concern about the injury's severity, stating: "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."
Endo was scheduled to undergo scans to determine the full extent of the damage, with all indications pointing to a significant spell on the sidelines. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk described the squad as "gutted" following the injury, highlighting the emotional impact on the team as they grapple with mounting defensive problems this season.
The injury adds to Liverpool's growing injury crisis, deepening concerns about squad depth during a critical period of the campaign.