Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits Wataru Endo had the ‘stiffest legs’ he’d ever seen after the midfielder left Wembley on crutches and with a protective boot following the team’s last-gasp Carabao Cup win against Chelsea

Liverpool may have picked up another injury following their heroic Carabao Cup win against Chelsea after Wataru Endo was seen leaving Wembley on crutches and wearing a protective boot.

The Reds claimed a famous extra-time victory thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute header, but their win may have come at a cost.

Jurgen Klopp’s men entered the game without 11 first team players including Mohamed Salah and Alisson, and then lost Ryan Gravenberch in the first half after he was on the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Moises Caicedo and had to be stretchered off.

Endo played the full 120 minutes, and joined in the team’s celebrations after the final whistle, but as the players departed Wembley he required the aid of crutches and had a protective boot on his left foot.

Speaking after the game, Klopp admitted that the intense clash had taken a lot out of Endo.

Endo left Wembley on crutches and wearing a protective boot following the game

The midfielder played the full 120 minutes as Liverpool came out on top thanks to a late Virgil van Dijk header

‘Wataru Endo, oh my god. He walked through the ceremony with the stiffest legs I ever saw,’ he said.

Liverpool only spent £16m on Endo last summer after missing out on Caicedo, who joined Chelsea for £115m.

Klopp hailed Endo’s impact since moving to Anfield, and claimed the Japanese star still has plenty more years at the highest level despite now being 31.

‘I said a couple of times we are lucky. He might be 30 or 31 in the passport but he is not, he’s a machine. Footballing wise he is exceptional, defensively insane. Yeah… very helpful,’ he added.

Liverpool will now hope that Endo’s injury is not too serious as they prepare to face a busy period of fixtures over the coming weeks.

Klopp’s side are back in action against Southampton in the FA Cup on Wednesday night, and they have three more games across the next two weeks against Nottingham Forest, Sparta Prague and Manchester City.

Liverpool were heavily reliant on their academy in the latter stages at Wembley, with Jayden Danns, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jarell Quansah all coming off the bench to star.

The same youngsters may be needed to step up again if Endo is ruled out of their next few matches.