LIVERPOOL v CRYSTAL PALACE
AS BEFITS a midfield warrior complete with boxer-style gumshield, Wataru Endo was badly bruised by Liverpool’s shock Europa League home defeat against Atalanta.
Now the Japan international who has become a firm Kop favourite following his bargain £18million arrival from VfB Stuttgart last August, promises that Jurgen Klopp’s side will come out fighting against Crystal Palace this afternoon.
“We will be fine but we need to stick together,” Endo stated. “Thankfully we have this other game coming up quickly and we have to be ready for it.”
Liverpool will be seeking instant retribution at Anfield – where the stunned fans could hardly believe their eyes on Thursday night as a side sixth in Italy’s Serie A dismantled Endo and company to win 3-0, the first home defeat of the season.
Endo also insists that the setback will not be allowed to derail the desire to crown Klopp’s farewell next month with the German’s second Premier League title.
He said: “We need to try and win every game.
“It’s important that we have a number of injured players coming back. Now we have to step up and win against Palace. We want to make it up to the fans after what happened against Atalanta.”
Diogo Jota and another long term absentee Trent AlexanderArnold were both involved on Thursday and will be in the frame to start. Missing keeper Alisson is back training again and could also be available.
Endo admitted that the Reds can’t afford any mental hangover from the Atalanta humbling.
He said: “We were disappointed in the dressing room after the game. We have to be in the right mind now. Everyone has to give off positive energy.
“Palace are a tough opponent to play. But we are at Anfield again and we have to start strong and be better offensively than we have been in the last few games.”
While revealing that the humbling on Thursday gave him his worst feeling yet in a Liverpool shirt Endo argued that freak results can happen.
“It was not a ‘shock’ – this happens in football sometimes.
“I try to give everything on the pitch always, just as I did against Atalanta but sometimes there is a reason that you can’t get the best result every time. I will again try to give everything for this game and the Europa League game as well.”
It’s that commitment to work rate and determination which has endeared the 31-year-old surprise signing to the Liverpool fans, who in the summer thought they were signing either Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia – only for both to go instead to Chelsea for a combined fee of £170m.
Endo got in the habit of wearing a mouthguard in Germany and has continued – it gives the combative star the look of a fighter as he guards the back four, allowing Alexis Mac Allister to weave his midfield magic further up the pitch.
Endo’s stunned Reds were against the ropes in this game, unable to ward off the punches, but he stressed: “Now we have to be ready to win again.”
Everyone has to give off positive
energy after Thursday’s loss