Arne Slot has chosen Wataru Endo to start at right-back as Liverpool take on Sunderland in the Premier League.
Dominik Szoboszlai, who had been standing in for the injured duo of Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, is serving a one-game ban after his late red card in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW SUNDERLAND VS LIVERPOOL LIVE!
Joe Gomez is only fit enough for the bench, meaning Slot has had to choose between midfielders Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo and has elected for the experienced Japan international, who has been forced to deputise in this out-of-position role already this season but now makes his first Premier League start of the campaign.
"Curtis and Wata also played in that position this year, so we've had six different right full-backs this season,” Slot said as he discussed his options earlier this week.
On the opposite side of the backline, Andrew Robertson has been given the nod over Milos Kerkez at left-back, but the lack of available options means there aren’t any changes further forward.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister remain the defensive midfield duo in Slot’s 4-2-3-1, behind the trio of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo, with Hugo Ekitike leading the line at the Stadium of Light.
Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak remain long-term absentees alongside Bradley.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Endo, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Jones, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha
Suspended: Szoboszlai
Time and date: 8:15pm GMT on Wednesday February 11, 2026
How to watch: TNT Sports
Venue: Stadium of Light
