Wataru Endo will be a big miss for Liverpool when he departs for the Asian Cup after the Reds’ meeting with Newcastle
Eyebrows were inevitably raised when Jurgen Klopp signed the lesser-known 30-year-old from VfB Stuttgart
Of course, Endo wasn’t the only midfielder feeling the pressure at Anfield, with question marks also hanging over Alexis Mac Allister’s head
Mac Allister put in an impressive performance at number six away at Man City five weeks ago
Mac Allister could return against Newcastle after making a comeback in team training earlier this week.
In the World Cup winner’s absence, Endo has shone in recent weeks. Also scoring his first Premier League goal for Liverpool against the Cottagers, he has since started the Reds’ last seven matches
While the jury still remains out on whether or not Klopp's squad requires more at number six, their situation looks a lot healthier than it did a few months ago.
Both Mac Allister and Endo are growing into the role, Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to emerge as a genuine midfield option, while Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are due back
Such has been Endo’s form in recent weeks, his absence will certainly be felt when he departs for the Asian Cup.
Mac Allister’s return to team training, with Thiago not too far behind, at least softens the blow for Klopp
Klopp would make light of the club’s summer transfer window earlier this month when speaking at a test event for the new Anfield Road stand, entertaining the crowd with light-hearted digs at Chelsea and Liverpool’s former targets.
Klopp
In the summer, the summer we had when a few strange things happened in the transfer market,” he recalled. “But here between us, I can say my God were we lucky, eh?
“We didn’t know that in the moment, it didn’t feel like it in that moment. But, meh. I’m really happy that it worked out like that.
“You never know before, but I had a really good feeling before we started pre-season. Clear we had two already with Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) and Dom (Dominik Szoboszlai) in, and we knew there was a chance for Ryan (Gravenberch).
“Then we obviously realised other central defensive midfielders don’t want to join Liverpool (laughs). You see what happens!
“And then we found (Wataru) Endo. He’s an exceptional player, he is, absolutely. He’s 30 years old and an experienced captain of Japan. It’s not possible to be the first pick because the transfer market is not like that. We don’t go for a 30-year-old player who plays in Germany and nearly got relegated.
“Thank God we looked about things twice and had another look. Then it was clear we wanted this boy, and he wanted to come, definitely, and that helps…”
Kopites have inevitably enjoyed the Londoners and Caicedo’s struggles so far this season, with Chelsea currently 14 points behind
That doesn’t mean Liverpool would have been worse off had they actually been successful in signing the 22-year-old.
Yet, all jokes aside from Klopp, the Reds can be grateful that they missed out on Lavia.
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