Wataru Endo has only played 91 minutes for Liverpool since signing a £19 million ($23 million) deal, according to Jurgen Klopp, who has made an effort to justify the situation.
WHAT OCCURED?
The arrival of the midfielder from Japan during the summer transfer window was unexpected. Few anticipated his signing a contract with Bundesliga club Stuttgart, therefore his presence was unexpected.
THE GRANDER IMAGE
Endo is struggling to get consistent playing time in the English top division due to tough competition for spots in the Liverpool engine room. He has started just two games in both Premier League and Europa League action.
WHO SAID WHAT?
When asked to evaluate the Japanese star’s start to life with the Reds, Klopp told reporters: “He needs to get used to the things here. The affable 30-year-old may have been too nice for his own good when he arrived on Merseyside. Wataru is a great man who is very composed and polite, and that may have cost him the first two weeks. That is presently approaching. Although he is not yet 30 or anything else and needs to move some individuals out of the way to join the team, he is becoming better every day.
WHAT ARRIVES SECOND?
Endo did make an appearance off the bench for Liverpool in their most recent game against West Ham, a 3-1 victory, but he was only brought on in the 88th minute and is finding it difficult to get into Klopp’s plans ahead of players like Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister.