Liverpool daily briefing: Klopp backs Endo, Morton shines on loan & attention turns to Leicester
Your Liverpool round-up for Tuesday September 26...
After a good start to the Premier League season and a decent win in the Europa League, attention turns to the Carabao Cup for Liverpool this week.
And with a big game away at Tottenham Hotspur to come on Saturday, that means chances for some of the Reds’ younger and fringe players to impress when Championship high-fliers Leicester City visit Anfield on Wednesday night.
One of those looking to make a claims for more regular inclusion in the starting XI is Wataru Endo, and it was interesting to hear Jürgen Klopp speak about the Japanese international after Sunday’s win over West Ham United.
Endo played only the final few minutes against the Hammers, having enjoyed a low-key evening against LASK in the Europa League last Thursday, and it is fair to say that he is yet to fully show what he can do since his surprise summer switch from VfB Stuttgart.
No great shock there, in truth. Bigger names than him have taken time to settle on Merseyside - Fabinho, anyone? - and, reassuringly, Klopp doesn’t seem a bit concerned.
“He needs to get used to the things here,” admitted the manager on Sunday. “He is not 30 or whatever and wants to get some people out of the way to get into the team, but he is improving every day.
“You saw that today, he is there, he will help us a lot. He will play games, he will start games and all these kinds of things.
“It’s all good, he had already three or four games now for us in a very short period. That is what counts.
“It is not a short-term project. Wataru is a super-important part of the squad and I am really happy to have him.”
It is likely that Endo, who shone for his country during the recent international break, will get another chance to start against Leicester, with the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch, Ben Doak, Cody Gakpo and Stefan Bajčetić all in line to join him in the starting XI.
The 30-year-old, one imagines, will be keen to impress. Endo was all smiles as he came through the mixed zone after the West Ham game - “you don’t want to speak to me today, no?” he joked with reporters - but he knows there is serious business to be done if he is to take advantage of this unexpected career move.
Leicester would be the perfect place to start.
Elsewhere…
You can read my analysis of Sunday’s game below. I noticed a lot of the focus, post-match, was on Darwin Núñez, and understandably so, but I’m interested to hear your thoughts on Alexis Mac Allister, Joël Matip and Joe Gomez in particular. Let me know in the comments.
It was good to hear Curtis Jones speaking so positively after the West Ham game. He’s been excellent of late, tactically astute, reliable in possession and a big part of this revamped Liverpool midfield. “There’s been times where I’ve had to wait my turn,” the 22-year-old told liverpoolfc.com, “but I’m at the point now where I’m in the team and I know what I’ve got to do.” Long may that continue.
David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Sergio Agüero, Erling Halend and now Mohamed Salah. On Sunday, Liverpool’s Egyptian King became only the fifth player to score or assist in each of the first six games of a Premier League season. Salah also took his tally of Premier League goals against West Ham to double figures. He’s only scored as many for Liverpool against Manchester United.
It’ll be Pep Lijnders on press conference duties on Tuesday ahead of the Leicester game. It’s a 13:30 start up at the AXA. I’ll be there to hear what the assistant boss has to say. I expect it to be extremely positive. It always is with Pep!
Some positive news with regards to Liverpool’s army of loan players, with midfielder Tyler Morton already making a real impression in the Championship with Hull City. The 20-year-old was instrumental as the Tigers beat Stoke City on Sunday. They’re up to fourth now.
Over in Germany, there was a first start for Fábio Carvalho as RB Leipzig won 1-0 away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. The 21-year-old lasted 70 minutes, while Sepp van den Berg was a second-half substitute for Mainz 05 as they were beaten 2-1 at Augsburg.
Harvey Davies continues to impress in League Two with Crewe Alexandra. The goalkeeper has started every game so far, helping his side to a 2-1 win over Colchester United on Saturday. Left-back Adam Lewis, meanwhile, was on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat for Newport County against Bradford City.
In Scotland, Owen Beck looks to have established himself as a starter for Dundee, playing the full 90 as they drew 2-2 with Kilmarnock, while in Switzerland Dominic Corness came off the bench to help Yverdon-Sport record an impressive 3-2 win over Basel.
And finally, it was brilliant to see former Reds striker Layton Stewart make his Football League debut for Preston North End at Rotherham United on Saturday. They’re flying under Scouser Ryan Lowe, and if they can get Layton up to speed, it won’t be long before he’s doing what he does best, and finding the back of the net.
If Davies has a good season (promotion, personal performance) do you think the club would be more comfortable with letting Kelleher go? I'd say it's probably a season early for Davies to be no.2 like. Trafford going from league 1 to the prem could be a barometer. Cheers for the read Neil, spent a good 20 mins looking into how he's done at Crewe.