Andoni Iraola says he’s planning to play a Liverpool midfielder who he hasn’t picked yet after Fulham draw
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Liverpool’s midfield was a big issue during Saturday’s draw against Fulham, with the Reds looking far too open far too many times.Ryan Gravenberch came in for Alexis Mac Allister, but the Dutchman has been poor when he has played so far this season, and that continued as he and Dominik Szoboszlai failed to lay a glove on Sander Berge and Shea Charles in the Fulham midfield.Mac Allister improved Liverpool when he came on, but it is clear that the Reds are badly missing a certain type of midfielder who can eat up the ground and get about the opposition. Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield Now 33, many supporters will not see Endo as the answer at all, but when asked about him during his post-match press conference, Iraola said that while the veteran is behind others for the time being, he will definitely get a chance to play this season.
Nevertheless, by hook or by crook, the former Japan international is still around.On paper, he could give Iraola the profile of midfielder he is missing, and Iraola confirmed that he will come into his thinking at some stage.“Wata lost quite a lot of pre-season. He’s still not at his best, but he’s training very well,” said the Liverpool head coach.READ MORE: Andoni Iraola reacts to Bradley Barcola’s first Premier League start for Liverpool vs FulhamPhoto by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images“The problem is in front of him I have a lot of players.
Not in front, he’s competing against a lot of players, because we are also giving minutes to Trey [Nyoni], Ryan [Gravenberch], Alexis [Mac Allister], Dom [Szoboszlai], players that I am selecting right now, but Wata is definitely a player that I like and for sure he will have his moments.”Endo could see his first minutes of the season on Tuesday, when Liverpool face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. If he can do well, Iraola may start to seriously think about whether the former Stuttgart man can provide an answer to what has become a real early-season issue in midfield.