Wataru Endo had not been blessed with many opportunities this season.
In the Premier League match against Sunderland, however, he was given a start at right-back. For Endo, it was his first start of the campaign.
The Meaning of Starting a Match
For any footballer, being named in the starting XI is something special.
There was a time in the history of football when substitutions were not even allowed. Simply put, only 11 players could take part, and every player fought with everything they had to be selected from the start.
Looking back even further, squad numbers were once closely tied to positions, and because players could not be substituted, numbers 1 to 11 were the norm. I remember Johan Cruyff’s famous No.14 as one of the moments that broke that convention.
That is why starting a match still carries deep meaning for players today.
A Long Layoff Now Seems Inevitable
At a press conference held on Friday morning local time, head coach Arne Slot confirmed that Endo’s injury is serious and that he will be sidelined “for a long time.” The exact length of his absence will become clearer after further assessments.
For Endo, who had finally earned his first start of the season, it must have felt like a nightmare moment.
Emotions With Nowhere to Go
When I heard that Endo had suffered a serious injury, I was deeply shocked.
Why did it have to happen like this?
Anger, sadness, confusion, and a quiet sense of heartbreak…
No one is to blame, which makes it even harder. There is nowhere to direct these feelings.
Full Support Is Needed
After watching the Sunderland match, so many thoughts crossed my mind.
Would things have been different if Endo had been playing more regularly?
Would he have avoided injury if he hadn’t been used out of position at right-back?
Why did he end up continuing to play after that moment?
But in the end, none of those questions can change what has already happened.
Endo himself has always said, “I’ll play anywhere for the team.”
That attitude defines who he is.
When speaking of long-term injuries involving Liverpool-related players, Takumi Minamino also once endured a serious setback. These moments remind us how harsh football can be.
More than anything, I sincerely hope that Liverpool will support Endo completely.
He needs the backing of the club, his teammates, and above all, the supporters.
To call it an “honourable injury” would feel too cruel.
Details about his condition will become clearer in time.
At moments like this, it is our turn as fans to stand behind him and send our encouragement.