Arne Slot has hinted that Wataru Endo will start for Liverpool when they travel to Brighton on Wednesday night.
Endo is set to make his second start of the season and only his sixth appearance under Slot when the Reds face Fabian Hurzeler’s side in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
This match comes as the Dutchman navigates an increasingly busy schedule, with the cup tie sandwiched between a 2-2 draw against Arsenal and a Premier League visit from Brighton on Saturday.
In his pre-match press conference, Slot explained why Endo deserves to start and discussed the challenging balancing act he faces with players in similar situations.
“The last thing is not always easy because they all want to play – and it would be strange for me if they are all happy [when] they don’t play,” Arne Slot said.
“But they are professionals, they know these things can happen and they also see the players who play in their positions do really well.
“So, that is mostly with Wata but it is also with Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah, that they are in competition with Ryan [Gravenberch], Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate].
“So they understand and they see how well these players play and that they also stay fit until the last minute of the game.
“But I think Wata is one of the players that might be in the line-up [tomorrow] because the season is going to be so long and we will need him during the season.
“Therefore, once in a while he needs this playing time as well.
“Fortunately he has this playing time with the national team, but it helps if he once in a while gets a game with us again.
“I really liked him against West Ham and what I admire about him, what I respect about him, is his personality because two times he had to come in five minutes before the end and in my managerial career I sometimes have seen that players who, if they come in five minutes before the end, they come in with a face like this and play like that.
“But every time when we need him – even if it’s for five minutes – he shows up for the team, for his teammates and for himself.
“Also for that reason he deserves to play tomorrow.”
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