2 weeks ago
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Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo was absent from training on Friday ahead of this weekend's Premier League encounter against Manchester United.
The former Stuttgart man withdrew from the Japan squad over the recent break due to a minor knock he sustained in the defeat against Chelsea two weeks ago. His international head coach Moriyasu Hajime revealed he decided against risking the 32-year-old for two friendly matches against Paraguay and Brazil.
“I was thinking about whether to call him up until the very last minute,” said Hajime. “Asking him to come from Europe again would be a burden for him, so I thought that the current number would be enough.”
However, it appears the issue is still bothering Endo, and he was not involved in Liverpool’s training session on Friday, which Sky Sports broadcast live.
Endo would almost certainly have been named on the substitutes’ bench for the clash against United on Sunday, and despite failing to start a league or European match so far this term, his role in closing out tight, high-stakes matches should not be underestimated.
“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.
“That might be normal for a lot of fans to hear, but for as long as I’ve been in football I’ve seen players who’ve had to come in five minutes before the end also doing different things and showing different energy than Wata shows.
“He is an important part of our team. Every time we need him, in the midfield or even now as a centre-back.”
Elsewhere, Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravnberch were involved in training on Friday, as Slot claimed they would be in his pre-match press conference.
Both have dealt with injury issues over the break, with Konate pulling out of the France squad and Gravenberch picking up a minor issue when playing for the Netherlands, but Slot expects both to be involved against United at Anfield.
“Ryan is completely fit, although we still have to train twice,” said the Liverpool head coach. “But if you ask me now, he is completely fit.
“Ibou has come back to us, started his sessions again and is expected to train with us today.”
However, Alisson is not an option for the Reds on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, while Giovanni Leoni is a long-term absentee.
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