Wataru Endo update after Liverpool midfielder missed training before Man Utd

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The Dutchman did not provide an update on Endo's journey to full fitness in his pre-match press conference but his reverence for the midfielder is well-known. Wataru Endo could only watch Japan beat Brazil from Liverpool alongside Alisson Becker (Image: curtisjones/Instagram) He said of the Japanese ace: "Wherever you play him, Wata is like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do my best, whenever you play me.’ So, if it’s five minutes before the end, he comes in and gives everything he has," Slot said earlier this year.

Every time we need him, in the midfield or even now as a centre-back." A key rotation player for Slot, Endo embraced the reputation of being a 'closer' last season given his introduction on the pitch usually came in the latter stages of a game where the Reds were winning with Endo entrusted to keep the lead for the team. The 32-year-old has managed just 36 minutes of Premier League action this season (Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse) "People started calling me a ‘closer’, but I don’t think people would call me that if I’d come on in the last 10 or 15 minutes of a game and conceded goals every time," Endo said in the summer.

"I’ve been called a ‘closer’ as a result of fulfilling the role I was given, so it means that I’ve found my purpose this season. I think there’s a high possibility that I’ll be able to play in various positions in the future, so I think I can carry that over to the next stage." He's found game-time hard to come by this season, however, having played just 36 minutes of football in the Premier League with just six minutes of play in his last six league games.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.