LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Wataru Endo during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andoni Iraola has admitted that he thinks Wataru Endo is behind a lot of players, but the coach still believes the midfielder “will have his moments.”
At 33 years old, Endo is no longer playing regularly for Liverpool and was even left out of the Champions League squad for the first half of the season.
He has, though, been on the bench for each of the Reds’ opening four Premier League matches, but he is yet got on the pitch.
With Tottenham visiting Anfield in the Carabao Cup, Endo could make his first appearance of the season on Tuesday.
“Wata lost quite a lot of the pre-season. I think he’s still not at his best but he’s training very well,” said Iraola.
After missing Japan’s World Cup campaign with a foot injury, Endo began pre-season in early July but wasn’t fully fit for its entirety.
He played just 115 friendly minutes, fewer than any other senior midfielder who was present.
Iraola continued: “The problem is, in front of him in his position, I have a lot of players.
“He’s competing against a lot of players because we are also giving minutes to Trey (Nyoni), Ryan (Gravenberch), Alexis (Mac Allister), Dom (Szoboszlai), players that I am selecting right now.
“But Wata is definitely a player that I like and for sure he will have his moments.”
Wataru Endo could start vs. Tottenham
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Wataru End? walks out to watch the second half during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That final line suggests we will see him in the early stages of the Carabao Cup. However, it may not be in his natural holding midfield position.
With Giovanni Leoni absent and Joe Gomez’s availability in doubt, Endo may need to fill in at centre-half.
This isn’t new to the veteran Japanese figure – he has started there four times previously for the Reds – but it would represent a significant change in height and speed at the back.
Despite generally being deemed surplus to requirements at Liverpool, there weren’t any strong rumours that he could leave the club this summer.
He is actually Liverpool’s only defensively-minded senior midfielder, too, a position fans want to see filled.
Endo is not the long-term solution and likely doesn’t have the mobility to regularly be an effective figure for Iraola.
However, he is a consummate professional with experience – a trait that shouldn’t be sold off lightly.
Football – FA Premier League – Liverpool FC v Fulham FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Jérémy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
P2026-08-15-Man_City_U18Liverpool_U18-4
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 15, 2026: Liverpool's Hadyn Murray-Holme during the U18 Premier League match between Manchester City FC Under-18's and Liverpool FC Under-18's at the Etihad Campus. Man City won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)