Liverpool will face Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night at the Amex Stadium.
The Reds won the competition last season under Jurgen Klopp and beat West Ham 5-1 in the previous round.
Arne Slot has made a strong start at Liverpool. The Reds are second in the Premier League and have picked up three wins out of three in the Champions League as well.
Ahead of the game, Slot has shared the team news and hinted that Wataru Endo could start the game.
What Slot has said about Wataru Endo
Endo, who featured prominently under Klopp, failed to make an impact under Slot. He has barely played in the Premier League, managing just three minutes of action, and hasn’t yet started a game.
He started the previous League Cup game, and Slot will use him again against Brighton. Ryan Gravenberch has been outstanding for the club this season, but he needs a breather.
Slot said that it is important for the 31-year-old to get some games under his belt, and added that he admires him a lot.
The Reds boss said: “I think Wata is one of the players that might be in the line-up [tomorrow] because the season is going to be so long and we will need him during the season. Therefore, once in a while he needs this playing time as well.
“Fortunately he has this playing time with the national team, but it helps if he once in a while gets a game with us again. I really liked him against West Ham and what I admire about him, what I respect about him, is his personality because two times he had to come in five minutes before the end and in my managerial career I sometimes have seen that players who, if they come in five minutes before the end, they come in with a face like this and play like that.
“But every time when we need him – even if it’s for five minutes – he shows up for the team, for his teammates and for himself. Also for that reason he deserves to play tomorrow.”
Wataru Endo needs to keep himself fit
The Japanese midfielder needs to keep himself fit. This is a long season, and there could be a few odd injuries as well.
In that case, Slot will need fringe players to step up, and Endo can do the job. He is a quality midfielder, but it is difficult for him at the moment to dislodge Gravenberch from the starting line-up.
This is a big opportunity for him to make an impact and help Liverpool secure another victory. The Reds will be without Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, Alisson and Federico Chiesa for this game.
In other Liverpool news, Slot needs to axe one Reds player after below part performance v Arsenal.
