Wataru Endo has declared his determination to secure a regular spot in Liverpool’s lineup following his goal for Japan in their 7-0 World Cup qualifying victory over China.
The 31-year-old has made just one appearance under Arne Slot this season, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brentford.
Endo joined Liverpool from VfB Stuttgart in a £16.2m deal in August 2023.
The midfielder made a strong impression under Jurgen Klopp, starting 34 of his 44 appearances in his debut season in England.
However, speculation about his future arose during the transfer window after Marseille had a £12m bid rejected in July.
Despite remaining at Anfield this summer, Endo lost his starting position to Ryan Gravenberch, as Slot prefers a different profile of holding midfielder.
This shift became evident during pre-season, with Endo starting only two of Liverpool’s six friendlies.
Slot used this period to evaluate the performances of Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Gravenberch in the holding role.
Despite the limited game time, Endo remains unfazed. He is confident that opportunities will come his way after the September international break and is committed to fighting for his place in the team.
“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 addressed Endo’s playing time this season, emphasizing that Endo remains a crucial member of his squad, as demonstrated by his appearance against Brentford.
“It is not always about the player himself, it’s also about the competition he faces,” the 45-year-old 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 consulted him about some of his international teammates
“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.”
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