£16m Liverpool player should be in-line for a rare start against Ipswich after today's injury update - opinion
Today at 01:30 PM
Liverpool were 2-1 victors against LOSC Lille on Tuesday, yet one blow from the match came in the form of Curtis Jones suffering an injury.
The England youth international went down against Lille in the first-half and was brought off at half-time for Alexis Mac Allister with Jones now expected to miss Liverpool’s Premier League clash this weekend against Ipswich Town.
With Conor Bradley also suffering a problem for Liverpool midweek, Arne Slot could be about to face the beginning of a potential injury crisis at Anfield, something that could derail the Merseyside giant’s push to win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Yet whilst Jones has been ruled out with injury this weekend, the midfielder’s absence could open the door for a rarely-seen Liverpool man to return to the starting XI.
READ MORE: What's really going on with Curtis Jones' contract talks at Liverpool
Wataru Endo must be in line for Liverpool return after Jones blow
Wataru Endo has been patient this season for first-team opportunities, with Slot only turning to the Japanese international either for League Cup or FA Cup games or when Liverpool need to close out a tight game by bringing on the defensive midfielder.
Yet injury to Jones could change all of that for Endo, who could be in line to return to the Liverpool starting XI this weekend against Ipswich with Slot potentially thinking about resting some key players in this Premier League tie.
With Endo sharing why he loves playing alongside Mac Allister, the former VfB Stuttgart captain could be an ideal replacement for Jones as well as Ryan Gravenberch heading into Saturday’s tie at Anfield, with the Dutch international in need of a rest.
And with Endo’s Liverpool future up in the air, giving the Japanese international a start could hammer home Slot’s recent comments that the midfielder isn’t going anyway despite rumoured interest from across the Premier League.
Endo starting vs Ipswich could all-but end exit rumours
Signed for £16m in 2023, Endo hasn’t hit the heights that many expected from the former Bundesliga commender after being brought to Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp, with Slot’s tenure seeing the midfielder’s minutes dry up drastically.
Yet with Ipswich, Fulham and Wolves all eyeing Endo, January could have been the perfect window for the 31-year-old to depart, yet Liverpool have taken the high road and chosen to back the Japanese star for the second-half of the season.
And Endo starting against the Tractor Boys could all-but end exit rumorurs surrounding the midfielder, who is seemingly happy at Liverpool and willing to continue his role at the club despute the limited playing time.
