Liverpool have just been given some great news about Waturo Endo on international duty today - opinion

22/03/2024 22:00

As always, Liverpool will be crossing their fingers during the ongoing international break.

At such a crucial point of the season, the Reds need all of their players to come back fit and healthy next week. With some injury problems still affecting the squad, any more would be a disaster.

So far, only two of the Liverpool first-team have been in action. Wataru Endo played just over half an hour during Japan’s 1-0 win over North Korea yesterday, while Kostas Tsimikas got the full 90 and registered an assist as Greece beat Kazakhstan 5-0.

There are a few more playing today, with the Netherlands, Hungary, Northern Ireland and Scotland all in action. Before any of that though, Liverpool have been given a rare piece of good news while their players jet around the world.

Wataru Endo heading back home

Following their win over North Korea last night, Japan received some unexpected news.

As per the-afc.com, their next game against the same team, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, has been postponed. It will no longer go ahead.

The reason given is that North Korea asked for the game to be moved to a neutral venue due to ‘unavoidable circumstances.’ No details of a rematch are given at this time.

Although there appears yet to have been any official confirmation of this, it now seems likely that Endo will travel back to Liverpool.

Good news for Liverpool

Often the international break can bring disappointing news for Liverpool. The amount of times we’ve had players go off to play for their country’s, only to come back unable to play is incredibly frustrating.

So, for a change, it’s great to have something good come out of it at a time when the Reds really need it.

Liverpool look unlikely to have any of their current injured players back in time to face Brighton next Sunday. Ryan Gravenberch should be more ready than he has been and could feasibly come back in.

But in terms of Curtis Jones, or Trent Alexander-Arnold – I.e. more midfield options for Jurgen Klopp – neither will be fit.

As a result, Klopp will surely be looking for Endo to go again. Having played such a lot of football over recent months, that will surely catch up with the 31-year-old eventually. Klopp even admitted that Endo should have been taken of at Old Trafford last weekend.

But after featuring for just half an hour for his nation yesterday and now having a full week off, the relentlessness of Endo’s schedule can now be relaxed.

As a natural fit and athletic midfielder, the Japan captain should hopefully then be ready for one last push this season. Without any more international breaks to consider, his full focus can return to Liverpool.

Endo has already proven to be a quite terrific little signing for the Reds. Over this last stretch of the season, he could yet get even better. Get him home.