In the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Tottenham and Liverpool, a concerning moment unfolded when a Liverpool defender had to be substituted just 30 minutes into the match due to feeling unwell. The defender was replaced by Wataru Endo after struggling with a pressure sensation in his chest during the match. Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, addressed the situation in his post-match press conference, providing insights into the circumstances surrounding the substitution.
“He didn’t feel really well, so from the moment the game started until the moment we had to take him off, he felt a pressure, I think he said on his chest,” Slot explained. The coach clarified that the defender’s issue wasn’t related to an injury but rather a feeling of discomfort that led to the decision to take him off the pitch. “It went so fast: he came off and the game started again, so I have to ask him exactly, but he said he didn’t feel really well,” Slot continued. The coach also mentioned that the player had been a bit ill in the days leading up to the game, which might have contributed to his discomfort during the match.
Slot emphasized that while the defender’s health concern was unrelated to an injury, the timing of his illness and recovery seemed to play a role in his condition on the day. “In the last few days he was a bit ill but we thought he was on his way back, but maybe that had something to do with it,” Slot noted. He made it clear that further discussions with the player were needed to fully understand the nature of his condition.
The substitution raised concerns among fans and prompted the coaching staff to assess the player’s recovery and readiness for future matches.
