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

Wataru Endo has vowed to fight for his Liverpool place after scoring for Japan in their 7-0 World Cup qualifying win over China. The 31-year-old has featured just once under Arne Slot so far this season, coming on as an 89th minute substitute in the Reds’ 2-0 victory over Brentford.

Brought in as a left-field signing from VfB Stuttgart in a £16.2m deal in August 2023, the midfielder impressed under Jurgen Klopp as he started 34 of his 44 appearances during his first season in England.

But that didn’t stop his future from being the subject of speculation during the transfer window after Marseille had a £12m bid rejected for his services in July.

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While Endo ultimately remained at Anfield this summer, he also lost his starting berth to Ryan Gravenberch with his new head coach favouring a different profile of holding midfielder.

Such a preference became clear during pre-season as the Japanese only started two of Liverpool’s six friendlies, as Slot instead weighed up the credentials of Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch in the position.

But Endo has insisted he is not worried by his lack of game-time so far this season for the Reds, and is confident that opportunities will fall his way after the September international break.

"When the international break is finished there is a run of games so I'll get more chances," he said. “You can't just use 11 players when you have a lot of games. I'm sure I'll get my turn.

"My physical condition won't be a problem. I've been training well and I'm not worried about it.

"At my age I have experience so getting a feel for games isn't a problem. The important thing is to train and prepare well.”

Slot has already spoken about Endo’s game-time so far this season, insisting that he remained an important member of his squad after coming on against Brentford.

“It is not always about the player himself, it’s also about the competition he faces,” the Dutchman said. “We have many good midfielders like we have many good players.

“We are really pleased with the way Wata is training for us but he has some good competition and I think you saw today a good performance from all three midfielders, so it is not always about him – it is also about the others.

“He will be important for us during the season because we need all of them; we all know how long a season can be over here and how many players you need – and he is one of them that we are going to need in the upcoming season.”

Meanwhile, Endo also revealed that Liverpool staff have sounded out the Japanese about some of his international team-mates.

"I get the impression that the evaluation of Japanese players who have transferred to England is gradually increasing,” he said ahead of facing China. “I think there is a lot of interest in Japanese players from all over the world.

“I am also asked by Liverpool staff about Japanese players, saying, 'What about that guy?' It's not that we want to transfer him, but just that he's a good player, that kind of thing.

"Some players are transferring to clubs not only in the Premier League but also in the Championship, and it's great for the development of Japanese soccer to be able to experience overseas soccer from a young age. It's great that players like those who get the experience there and join the national team can improve their skills overseas."

The Reds previously signed Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg in a £7.25m deal in January 2020, while they have been linked with moves for Takefusa Kubo and Ko Itakura in recent months.

Endo even went as far as touting Kubo as a possible future replacement for Mohamed Salah back in July when he was asked which of his international team-mates he would like to see join him at Anfield.

“Kubo. The search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah has begun, so this is becoming a real area for Liverpool to strengthen,” he told Abema Sports Time. “I think the player who can replace him, in the national team, would be Kubo."