Arne Slot confirms ANOTHER Liverpool midfield blow

Liverpool have been suffering over several injury issues in recent weeks.

We’ve seen the likes of Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak sidelined - while Giovanni Leoni remains a long-term casualty.

Federico Chiesa meanwhile missed the midweek assignment at Inter due to illness. Another player revealed by Arne Slot to be injured on Friday was Wataru Endo.

The 32-year-old fan favourite has only managed 43 minutes across five substitute outings in the Premier League this season. And according to Slot the Japan midfielder is now expected to be sidelined for “weeks” alongside Gakpo.

Endo's ankle injury

Endo is suffering the effects of an ankle injury - and will be missing through a very busy part of the season.

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"It's going to be weeks," Slot said. "With Cody it's a muscle injury and Wata is an ankle injury."

Liverpool’s load is heavy through the festive period and the injury comes at the worst possible time for Dutchman Slot. He will have been hoping to have everyone fit throughout this sequence of fixtures - especially in midfield.

For recent matches Slot has taken to using four midfielders from the start - with Curtis Jones coming into contention.

Endo’s absence means a lack of decent midfield cover on the bench if he regularly uses four across the middle in his diamond formation.

Liverpool's lack of midfield options

That in turn could open the door to young prospect Trey Nyoni. The 18-year-old’s only senior outings this season have come in the EFL Cup. Liverpool cannot count on Tyler Morton either - with the homegrown midfielder sold to Lyon last summer.

In midfield Slot has put all his cards on the table in recent matches and he will be hoping that injuries or suspensions won’t bite any further.

Endo joined Liverpool back in 2023 from Stuttgart as a stop-gap signing under Jurgen Klopp. He played his part in the EFL Cup victory back in 2024 - and was used as a closer by Slot during the charge to the Premier League title last season.