Klopp compares Liverpool summer signing to Nunez after honest admission

04 November 2023 , 16:18

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Klopp compares Liverpool summer signing to Nunez after honest admission

Jurgen Klopp believes Wataru Endo could follow the “same story” as Darwin Nunez after a tricky start to life at Anfield.

The Japanese international joined the Reds from German side Stuttgart late in the summer transfer window. Liverpool paid £16m for the midfielder and the 30-year-old put pen to paper on a four-year deal.

However, he has found opportunities limited as a Liverpool player. He has made 11 appearances so far this term and six of those have been starts - only one coming in the Premier League. Klopp believes that he will soon forge a role for himself in the Reds’ side, just like Nunez.

The Uruguayan striker had a stuttering start to life on Merseyside following a big-money switch from Benfica but has become a cult hero among the Liverpool support. Speaking about Nunez’s recent excellent form, Klopp said: “The speed, the finishing skills, the desire he has… when he’s fit he is really fit so he can go and go again. You just don’t know where he will end up. He came in for really big money. It shows again that players need time. We forget that.

“With Endo, just because of the age people think, ‘Why is he not like that?’ He is a different character to the other boys and you can see the steps he is making. He has another five years of top football in his legs.

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“He has a lot of potential and he never played on this level before but now consistently I am really happy with him. So that’s the same story. People always say, ‘How long will it take?’ but Darwin is here, Darwin is fully here and it’s different. It’s good for him.”

Jurgen Klopp has compared Wataru Endo to Darwin Nunez (Getty Images)

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Endo has already offered his view on his first few months at Anfield and has been taken aback by the difference between the Premier League and the Bundesliga. He admitted: "Everything's different: physical, technique, speed.

"It's the Premier League. Of course, I don't play a lot of games in the Premier League but when I played against Newcastle, it was a very tough game for me. It’s a lot of speed, everything is different."

Endo will be hoping to earn a couple more opportunities before the final international break of the calendar year. Liverpool are next back in action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Kenilworth Road to take on newly-promoted Luton.

They then face French side Toulouse in their second Europa League group meeting - the Reds running out 5-1 winners at Anfield last month. Liverpool then face a clash against Brentford before a fortnight’s break.

Daniel Orme