Liverpool’s right-back position has become a revolving door of injuries, and the latest victim is Wataru Endo, whose painful ankle injury at Sunderland has left fans and the team holding their breath. But here's where it gets even more concerning—Endo was the seventh player to start at right-back this season, and his injury only deepens the crisis. Let’s break it down.
Endo, stepping in for Dominik Szoboszlai, had barely settled into his role when disaster struck. Midway through the second half, while making a crucial clearance, his left ankle twisted awkwardly under his body weight. Despite his initial attempt to soldier on, the pain became unbearable, and he was stretchered off the pitch, given a green whistle for pain relief. And this is the part most people miss—this isn’t just any injury; a Grade 3 twisted ankle could sideline him for 8 to 12 weeks, depending on ligament damage. For a player eyeing the World Cup this summer, this couldn’t have come at a worse time.
This marks Endo’s third injury of the season, following a seven-game absence last year due to a different ankle issue. Is this a pattern, or just bad luck? It’s a question worth asking as Liverpool’s right-back woes continue to pile up. Joe Gomez stepped in seamlessly at Sunderland, but manager Arne Slot’s options are thinning. Szoboszlai is expected back for the FA Cup clash against Brighton, but Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong remain sidelined. Frimpong, nursing a groin injury, is yet to return to training, leaving Slot eagerly awaiting his comeback as Liverpool chases two trophies and a Champions League spot.
Curtis Jones could fill the gap, but Slot has been hesitant to deploy him recently, and Calvin Ramsay seems to have fallen out of favor. But here’s the controversial part—with so many injuries, is it time for Liverpool to rethink their approach to player rotation and injury prevention? Or is this simply an unfortunate streak that every team faces at some point? Let’s discuss in the comments—do you think Liverpool’s right-back crisis is a result of bad luck, poor management, or something else entirely?
