Wataru Endo makes Liverpool vow and responds to Jurgen Klopp ‘lie’

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has been speaking ahead of Japan’s Asian Cup campaign getting underway on Sunday

Wataru Endo has issued a warning to Liverpool, saying that his goal is to lead Japan to continental triumph and that he has no wish to return from the Asian Cup too soon.

After Liverpool lost out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea in the summer transfer window, the 30-year-old made an unexpected £16.2 million move to the Reds from VfB Stuttgart. However, he had a sluggish start to life at Anfield, but in the last few weeks, he has proven to be one of Jurgen Klopp’s most brilliant players.

The midfield player had been excellent in the absence of the injured Alexis Mac Allister since coming off the bench to score his first Premier League goal in the 4-3 victory over Fulham at the beginning of December. Up until the Reds’ 4-2 victory over Newcastle United on New Year’s Day, he would start eight straight games throughout the holiday season. The supporters’ choice for Player of the Month went to him because of his performances.

However, the 30-year-old is currently overseas on international duty as Japan looks to win the Asian Cup for a record-tying fifth time. He may miss eight games, having already missed Liverpool’s FA Cup and League Cup victories over Arsenal and Fulham.

With 55 caps for his country to date, Endo was named captain of Japan following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He left as an unutilized replacement when Japan unexpectedly lost to Qatar in the most recent Asian Cup final in 2019, so he’ll be looking to make a statement in the Middle East in the interim.

Speaking to reporters last week, Klopp would joke that he wanted Endo and Mohamed Salah to quit the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations early, respectively, after they were both forced to serve their countries.

“It would be a lie (laughs) if I said I wished you luck,” he taunted. “No, I do definitely wish them well, but personally, I would be extremely delighted if they were eliminated in the group stages, but I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen.

It’s okay, they have the opportunity to win it too. So good luck, see you later, and make a full recovery. That essentially sums up the terms.

“We will deal with it; we have to deal with it now. Naturally, when you watch the latest games, you might think, “Well, that looks a little weird,” but I have a good feeling that we will figure something out. However, we must demonstrate that on the field.

When Endo was questioned about his club manager’s remarks prior to Japan’s opening match against Vietnam on Sunday, he saw the lighthearted side and expressed his desire to win the competition.

“Of course the coach meant that as a joke but I do feel very honoured that he feels I need to be back at Liverpool,” he said. “I’m here now, I’m the captain of the team and all I’m thinking about is bringing the trophy back to Liverpool.”

The Reds are next in action away at AFC Bournemouth on Sunday 21 January after their Premier League winter break. Meanwhile, Japan take on Iraq in their second Asian Cup game on Friday 19 January, before their group concludes against Indonesia on Wednesday 24 January.

With the round-of-16 scheduled for January 28–31, the quarterfinals on February 2-3, the semifinals on February 6-7, and the final in Lusail on February 10, Japan is among the favorites to win the Asian Cup this year.