Appearing In The 2023 Asian Cup, Wataru Endo Loses His Position In Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder and Japanese national team captain Wataru Endo (X/@LFC).

JAKARTA - The Japanese national team midfielder, Wataru Endo, admitted that he had to leave Liverpool who were competing closely with Aston Villa and Manchester City in the 2023/2024 Premier League. More than that, Endo lost his position in Liverpool.

Endo achieved his best form and began to show consistency when he was the first choice in the last six matches of Liverpool. He answered the trust of Jurgen Klopp's manager while replacing the injured Alexis Mac Allister.

The captain of the Japanese national team has begun to establish himself as the pillar of the Reds. He played a role in bringing Liverpool to the top of the 2023/2024 Premier League standings.

Previously, Endo had difficulty in the first months of his arrival from VfB Stuttgart.

However, when Endo was an inseparable part of The Kop squad, he had to go to join the Japanese national team in the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar. The biggest football tournament in Asia was indeed held in the middle of European competition.

This resulted in Asian players who strengthened European clubs missing a chance to show off their abilities for one month. Not only the club, but players also feel disadvantaged.

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is also Endo's compatriot, said that the Asian Cup schedule in January-February 2024 made him lose the opportunity to contribute to the club. Tomiyasu hopes that the Asian Cup will be shifted to June.

Like Endo, who helped Liverpool maintain competition at the top of the league, Tomiyasu is also an important part of Arsenal. Again, Arsenal competed closely with Liverpool in the competition.

"Frankly, it's hard to leave the club and I hope to stay here (Liverpool). However, being a Japanese national team player is also important. Moreover, I am the team captain," said Endo.

"Even so, I remain fully focused on the Japanese national team and hope to do my best," he said again.

Endo hopes to bring Japan to the top match and win the title. Moreover, Japan, which holds the winning record by lifting the trophy four times, is one of the seeds in the 2023 Asian Cup.

In the last edition, 2019, Japan qualified for the final. However, they failed after being defeated by Qatar 1-3 in the top match.

"I hope to win the Asian title. It doesn't matter if it makes me last longer in Qatar," said Endo.

Endo's departure makes MacAllister, who has recovered from injury, his first option.

Previously, in the match against Newcastle United which Liverpool won 4-2, MacAllister had already been fielded in the second half replacing Endo. Now, the midfielder with 30 has lost momentum for defending the Blue Samurai.

"Macca [MacAllister] is back. So, I can focus on the Japanese national team. I'm sure we (Liverpool) can still play well even though I don't have it and (Mohamed) Salah," he said.

Salah also had to leave Liverpool because he strengthened Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament was also held in January-February 2024.