Liverpool star Wataru Endo leaves pitch in tears on stretcher after horror injury

Liverpool have suffered yet another injury blow after Wataru Endo left the pitch on a stretcher following a worrying looking leg issue against Sunderland

Wataru Endo left the pitch in tears as he was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a concerning looking injury during the Reds' clash at Sunderland. The 33-year-old appeared to get his foot stuck in the turf while stretching to clear the ball.

He initially got back to his feet and attempted to carry on but soon collapsed back to the turf in clear discomfort. After a lengthy stoppage, medics placed him on to a stretcher and he was carried off.

It's the latest in a long line of injury issues for Liverpool boss Arne Slot who is already without Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak.

Endo was covering at right-back due to the shortage in that area of the pitch. He was replaced by Joe Gomez, himself returning from an injury.

READ MORE : Virgil van Dijk fires Liverpool to Sunderland win but curse continues - 5 talking pointsREAD MORE : Trent Alexander-Arnold faces new Real Madrid threat as immediate talks planned

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

The incident came after Virgil van Dijk had given the Reds the lead on Wearside. The Dutchman headed home from a corner via Habib Diarra who could only divert the ball into the roof of the net on his own goal line.

Endo joined Liverpool in August 2013 for a £16million fee from German side VfV Stuttgart. He had previously starred in his native Japan and in Belgium.

He has 72 caps for his country, who will be hoping the injury does not keep him out of this summer's World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Van Dijk's goal was enough to secure all three points for the Reds and inflict Sunderland's first home defeat of the Premier League season.

It moves Liverpool to within two points of Chelsea in fifth and three of Manchester United in fourth as they bid to secure a Champions League spot next term.

BACK THE MIRROR! Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search

Click here to read article