02 Jun 2026 18:56:44
Probably an unpopular opinion but I think Endo could do a job of squad player under Iraola. He's an all action midfielder who will press for days.
I've seen a lot of people say he's certain to leave but I'm not so sure.
Granted he's not week in week out quality, but not a bad option for a year to ensure we don't spread our budget too thin needing too many players?
Ed1, thoughts?
{Ed001's Note - it depends on his fitness after his injury.}
03 Jun 2026 12:01:25
Both managers haven't played him, so I think that says something.
03 Jun 2026 12:15:40
He is a captain, a professional, will do a job at center mid or center half, and can't be earning all that much money. We have a small squad as it is. If he's not pushing to leave, I wouldn't push him out the door.
03 Jun 2026 12:24:37
Time to move on for me... wasn't what we wanted when we signed him and hasn't done much since. Been wasted.
03 Jun 2026 12:25:53
Do you think he's good enough though, PB?
03 Jun 2026 12:35:51
I don't think I can really be objective about it, FM. Endo is one of my favorite players in football and has been since he was at Stuttgart. I'm a keen follower of the Japanese national team haha, and have about 8 different Endo shirts.
03 Jun 2026 12:40:55
Let the man leave for one last contract and regular game time. We need to build for the future and change how we operate to include clear pathways for the top young talent.
Slot undid all that Jurgen did, and we need to put that right.
03 Jun 2026 12:54:38
Endo is too slow, both in moving and getting the ball out of his feet to move it on. He will look like a fish out of water in Iraola's intense system. He is not getting any younger either, and this is likely to get worse.
03 Jun 2026 13:09:07
If Ireola plays with 2 sitting midfielders, we will need at least 4 in the squad.
Gravenberch
Mac Allister
Jones
Endo
Nyoni
McConnell
What if we sell Macca/Jones as some people want us to? What if McConnell and Nyoni aren't ready yet? We have many areas to improve.
We could do far worse than keeping a determined professional and International Captain on the books to spread out the needed purchases or allow time for the youngsters to develop.
03 Jun 2026 13:13:42
He can't get about the pitch and uses a non-HG spot. I would move him on. Love Wata and his heart, but we are better off using James McConnell as a backup DM.
03 Jun 2026 13:16:50
I’ve always liked Endo and rooted for him since the start of his career at Anfield. I think he’s always been an exemplary professional, and done a job when we’ve needed him (most the time), but I didn't see him as anything more than a decent squad player at the time. I think by now, especially with his time with Slot, he’s probably regressed somewhat, and he should move on and end his career playing some first team football somewhere. I think he was massively under utilised under Slot, but so were so many players other than his favourite senior players. I could see that being different under Iraola, tbf, but maybe not at Liverpool.
We need to improve on that midfield massively, I’d say at least two top players need to come in. Macca and Endo should move on. I’d keep Jones as a squad player, but I’d doubt he’d want to; he wants first team football and he’s not that level imo, so he’d probably be off as well if we can get a good fee for him.
I think I’ve only heard us wanting one midfielder, I hope that’s not true. Grav and Szobo are the only ones I’d say are starter level currently, and we haven’t had a top midfield since Hendo/Gini/Fab.
03 Jun 2026 13:43:00
Two title-winning managers underused Endo.
Perhaps a non-winning manager will see the fairy dust and turn it into gold?
Jokes aside, I love Endo and hope he gets more minutes. He needs to be healthy tho.
03 Jun 2026 13:52:38
From what I have seen of Nynoi, I certainly think he is nowhere near ready for first team football. He hasn't shown anything whatsoever in becoming a sub, let alone a regular. We need much better if we have any further desires to win the league and Champions League again. I posted on the rumor page that, imo, it's all about getting too much too quickly for little effort. These boys need to prove themselves first, and push for recognition before being even considered for the first team squad. Neither he nor Rio are good enough. Yet. And perhaps they never will be.
Time will tell. If in the interim they get impatient, then sell them on. Too many promises are being made to these lads, and they start to believe in their own hype before they actually have any. I'd love to see us produce young gifted and committed players from our academy, but I believe that I'll be waiting for it to happen. There are too many expectations at our club to warrant a run in the first team if they're nothing but exceptional like Owen or Fowler or Gerrard. They're light years away from that standard. And that is the standard we require.
03 Jun 2026 15:44:59
I'd defo keep Endo, there is only him n Kerkez who actually tackles in our team. He was overlooked by Slot for two very underwhelming players like Gravenberch n Macallister. We were crying out for some steel in the team last season.
03 Jun 2026 17:18:11
I'd rather keep Endo over Jones, Endo puts far more effort into his game.
03 Jun 2026 18:42:43
Endo has good attributes, he was slow when he first arrived.
He is 33 now. He will be found wanting with Iraola ball and the pace of the EPL.
03 Jun 2026 19:41:20
I agree I'd move him on. But then I would have moved him on last summer.
03 Jun 2026 23:34:09
I really would like to see Tyler Adams sign. Knows the system and good at pressing and breaking up play. And he is quick with prem experience. And he wouldn't have to start.