“It’s the end for him isn't it?” - Fans worried as 31-year-old Liverpool star misses out on squad to face Bournemouth
Fans are worried about 31-year-old Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, who did not make the squad for their Premier League match against Bournemouth. The Reds are set to invite the Cherries to Anfield today (September 21), but the holding midfielder will not be a part of the game.
He was a consistent part of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp last season, as he helped them reach third place in the league and return to the Champions League. The midfielder notably played 44 games in all appearances and was a force to reckon with in defensive midfield.
However, Klopp has left the club, with Arne Slot taking over the reins, and reports (via CaughtOffside) have claimed that Endo is not in Slot's plans moving forward. Liverpool notably tried to sign Martin Zubimendi as his replacement during the summer window. Although that failed, the Japan international has barely found playing time this season.
So far, he has two appearances, one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both times, he spent only a minute on the pitch.
For their match against Bournemouth, Wataru Endo wasn't even named on the bench, leading fans to question the situation. They took to social media to voice their concern with posts like these:
"What is slot obsession with 4 defenders on the bench? Surely Morton/Endo should be on the bench ahead of Tsimikas/Gomez." a fan wondered.
"No Endo?? So it's the end for him, isn't it??" another realized.
"Where’s Endo?" another fan asked.
"Endo not on the bench?" a third was surprised.
"Endo doesn’t even make the bench???" this fan was shocked.
"Endo 😭" a fan cried.
Liverpool face Bournemouth challenge after shock Nottingham Forest loss
The last time Liverpool were in Premier League action, they endured a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in front of their home fans on September 14. It was notably Arne Slot's first defeat as head coach, and the Dutchman was not pleased.
When he spoke to the press afterward, Slot revealed how much of a disappointment losing the game was. He explained (via The Guardian):
“It is a big setback. If you lose a home game that’s always a setback and especially if you face a team, we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for Champions League places, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10.
"If you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment, although they were organised and structured really well.”
Liverpool went on to secure a brilliant 3-1 win over AC Milan during the UEFA Champions League round of games in the midweek (September 17). However, they will now look to take the sword to Bournemouth and seal all three points in front of their fans.