“He was never part of the plan for this team and he would never be the only reason he’s still playing is because there’s nobody to play his position. And with the way he is performing now, he’s not going to be here next season” – This is according to Liverpool Manager Arne Slot as he confirms that ‘World-Class’ Liverpool star is not part of his plans for the team.

Waturo Endo’s tenure at Liverpool may soon be drawing to a close, as suggested by Andy Jones of *The Athletic*. Jones reports that the early signs point toward a potential exit, particularly due to Endo’s exclusion from the starting lineup under new manager Arne Slot.

Despite joining Liverpool from Stuttgart last summer with the expectation of being a rotational player, Endo quickly became a regular feature, playing a significant role in a season where the Reds competed for the Premier League title and secured Champions League qualification.

However, this season, Slot has chosen not to include Endo in his system, preferring other players for midfield roles. According to Jones, this lack of game time could foreshadow the Japan international’s departure in the near future, despite his promising start in the Premier League. Jones highlights that Endo now finds himself on the periphery of Liverpool’s squad, suggesting he is not considered part of the club’s long-term plans.

Speaking on The Athletic’s Walk On podcast, journalist Andy Jones suggested that there are clear indications Arne Slot does not view Wataru Endo as part of Liverpool’s long-term plans, especially given his limited playing time in pre-season and early games. Jones remarked:

“We saw in pre-season, with Slot not using him much, and the fact that Liverpool opted to sign another defensive midfielder, that Endo doesn’t seem to fit into the club’s future strategy.

“For this season, now that he’s here, his role might be more about coming off the bench in the final 15-20 minutes when Liverpool are in control, helping to secure the result. He’s good at keeping possession and doing the basics, but the issue is he’s not that forward-thinking passer.”

Endo’s impact for Klopp last season was significant, but things have changed drastically this year.

Last season, Wataru Endo was a regular starter under Jurgen Klopp after joining from Stuttgart, with Klopp even describing him as “world-class.” Despite the managerial change, it was expected that Endo would still get a few starts under Arne Slot, at least as a squad player.

**Endo’s Premier League Stats – Liverpool Squad Rankings, 2023/24:**
– **Appearances:** 29 (10th)
– **Yellow Cards:** 10 (1st)
– **Pass Completion Rate:** 88.4% (6th)
– **Tackles Per Game:** 1.7 (5th)
– **Aerial Duels Won Per Game:** 1.1 (5th)
– **Match Rating:** 6.59 (20th)

Endo started 9 of Liverpool’s 10 Europa League games and 20 Premier League matches last season, along with 5 domestic cup starts, making him a key player under Klopp. However, this season, he’s seen far fewer minutes under Slot, making only late substitute appearances, such as in the Premier League match against Brentford and the 3-1 win over AC Milan at San Siro. Players like Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones have been favored over him.

With Harvey Elliott set to return from injury and Tyler Morton progressing in his development, it remains unclear whether the 31-year-old Wataru Endo will get playing time in the future, potentially signaling the end of his career at Liverpool.