Wataru Endo speaks out on Liverpool position as staff ‘ask about Japan team-mates

Wataru Endo has pledged to compete for his spot at Liverpool after netting for Japan in their 7-0 World Cup qualifier victory over China. The 31-year-old midfielder has only made one appearance under Arne Slot this season, entering as an 89th-minute substitute in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brentford.

Signed from VfB Stuttgart in a £16.2m deal in August 2023, Endo initially impressed under Jürgen Klopp, starting 34 of his 44 appearances during his debut season. Despite this, his future came under scrutiny during the transfer window, as Marseille had a £12m offer for him rejected in July.

Though he stayed at Anfield, Endo has since lost his starting position to Ryan Gravenberch, with Slot preferring a different type of holding midfielder. This preference was evident in pre-season, where Endo started only two of Liverpool’s six friendlies, while Slot experimented with Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Gravenberch in that role.

However, Endo remains unfazed by his limited playing time this season and believes his chances will come after the September international break. “When the international break is over, there will be many games, so I’ll have more opportunities,” he said. “You can’t rely on just 11 players when there are so many matches. I’m confident my time will come. My fitness isn’t an issue; I’ve been training well.”

At 31, Endo emphasized his experience, noting that getting up to speed during games isn’t a concern. He stated, “The key is to train and prepare well.”

Slot has also addressed Endo’s playing time, affirming that he remains a crucial part of the squad. “It’s not always about the individual player, but the competition they face,” said the Dutch coach. “We have many talented midfielders. We’re very happy with Wata’s training, but he faces strong competition. However, he’ll be vital for us as the season progresses because we’ll need everyone.”

Endo also shared that Liverpool staff have inquired about his Japanese teammates. “I feel there’s growing recognition of Japanese players in England,” he said before facing China. “Liverpool staff ask me about certain players, not because they want to sign them, but because they see their talent.”

Liverpool previously signed Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg in a £7.25m deal in January 2020 and have recently been linked with Takefusa Kubo and Ko Itakura. Endo even suggested Kubo as a potential future replacement for Mohamed Salah in July, stating, “The search for Salah’s replacement has begun, and I think Kubo could be that player.”