🏟️🚨Absolute pain for Liverpool fans as one of the club’s key stars has reportedly suffered a devastating injury while on international duty

The 32-year-old midfielder, who joined Liverpool in 2023 for £16 million from Stuttgart and quickly became a fan favorite for his tireless energy, has been ruled out of Japan’s international friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil after sustaining an injury during Liverpool’s 3-0 Premier League defeat of Chelsea on October 4. The setback, identified as a potential muscle strain, deepens the club’s growing injury concerns amid a brutal run of three straight losses — including a 2-1 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray and a 2-0 derby loss to Everton on October 7. Even a short absence from Wataru Endo is a heavy blow for a squad already stretched thin.

Known affectionately by supporters as the “Samurai,” Endo has been a crucial presence in Arne Slot’s midfield, offering both aggression and control. Although he appeared fine after playing 20 minutes off the bench against Chelsea, Japan’s football federation later confirmed his withdrawal from the friendlies, with Liverpool deciding to act cautiously. Slot openly admitted after the Everton defeat, “Wataru’s our glue. Losing him now is a real test.” The Reds’ injury list is already packed: Alisson Becker (hamstring, out until November), Federico Chiesa (niggle), Giovanni Leoni (ACL, out for the season), Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring), and backup goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros (minor issue) are all sidelined. Out of 19 players called up for international duty, only 17 will travel, leaving Slot desperately hoping Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold avoid further setbacks ahead of the crucial Manchester United clash on October 19.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Liverpool, currently sitting ninth in the Premier League and trailing Arsenal by eight points, appear to be in freefall following last season’s title glory. Social media platform X erupted with #EndoInjury trending, as supporters voiced their frustration: “Not Wataru—our midfield’s done without him.” The disappointment has been intensified by Jürgen Klopp’s unexpected return on October 7 as Slot’s senior mentor — a bold move from FSG aimed at rescuing the campaign. Fresh from a Red Bull stint, Klopp is tasked with reigniting the club’s signature “heavy metal” energy, but Endo’s absence threatens to complicate his revival mission. The midfield looks vulnerable, particularly with £116 million signing Florian Wirtz struggling for form and clashing with Slot behind the scenes. Everton fans are relishing the Reds’ misfortune, while United supporters, still reeling from Wayne Rooney’s recent “no fight” criticism of their own squad, view this as the perfect opening to strike at Anfield.

With the international break running from October 7–15, Liverpool briefly have time to regroup. But the next fixtures — a showdown with United followed by a Champions League meeting with Real Madrid — will demand something extraordinary. Endo’s absence is being felt like a wound, with fans calling it “absolute pain” and fearing the season could spiral further. Klopp’s return may offer leadership and belief, but without key figures like Endo, the challenge ahead looks immense. The question now is simple: can Liverpool fight their way back, or has the storm finally broken them? YNWA, but Anfield is hur

ting.