After the highs of last season, Liverpool supporters have had to endure one of their worst periods in living memory this term.
The Reds have inexplicably fallen off a cliff, with every week bringing further misery in the Premier League.
Things hit another new low on Saturday as Bournemouth snatched a winner with near-enough the final kick of the ball at the Vitality Stadium.
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Who was Liverpool’s worst player as they fell to a pathetic loss against Bournemouth?
Mohamed Salah chases the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
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To make things worse, it was a goal Liverpool feel to have conceded a hundred times over this season, with the Reds’ defence failing to deal with a long throw into the box and succumbing to the second or third ball.
Truly, there are no real positives to take from such a chastening defeat, although the performance of Wataru Endo as a makeshift centre-back deserves at least some of the spotlight.
Wataru Endo impresses at centre-back vs Bournemouth
With Ibrahima Konate still on compassionate leave following the sad death of his father this week, Arne Slot had no choice but to cross his fingers and hope Joe Gomez could get through back-to-back games.
Inevitably, the 28-year-old could not, lasting only 26 minutes before being taken off with a suspected injury. As supporters’ worst fears were confirmed, Endo came on for a first appearance since December 6th.
Wataru Endo wipes his shirt with his face during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
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The Japanese has played at centre-back for Liverpool before and has generally done well, and as he battled and hassled in his typical way, this was another good showing.
Endo even offered something going forward, with one mazy run and attempted through-ball for Cody Gakpo showing what he can bring as a front-footed defender.
As Liverpool search for solutions to their ongoing shortage at centre-back, this was a signal that they are right to put faith in the players currently at Slot’s disposal. However, with the January window still open, that is something that will only serve to annoy supporters even more.
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There were some AWFUL performances vs Bournemouth
Virgil van Dijk complains after Liverpool concede against Bournemouth during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Catherine Ivill - AMA).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Catherine Ivill – AMA
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Supporters will not be satisfied with Endo in defence
It remains to be seen just how long Gomez will be missing for this time, and Konate will likely return by the time Liverpool play Qarabag on Wednesday.
However, it feels unlikely to be the final time Slot needs to use Endo in defence this season.
Although on this showing he can certainly do a job there, it is still not ideal, and will further underline how bizarre Liverpool’s lack of desire to do January business truly is.
Liverpool fans love Endo, and he should not be the source of any frustration at all in this scenario. But the truth is that he is no longer good enough to be a starter for the champions, and they should not be relying on an out-of-position veteran to get them through important matches.
The Reds will sign a centre-back this summer, there seems to be little question of that, but in the meantime fans are going to have to get used to watching Endo do the odd shift next to Van Dijk. He will battle hard and deserves praise for that, but it only serves to highlight what a mess Liverpool’s recruitment currently is.
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