Robbie Earle suggests 30-year-old Liverpool player is never going to be right for Jurgen Klopp

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Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has split plenty of opinion ever since signing for the Reds in August.

Despite some initial reservations about the wisdom of bringing in the 30-year-old, Endo has recently proven a few of his doubters wrong.

That culminated in an excellent display this mid-week against Burnley. Having ran the show in the Liverpool midfield, Endo covered every blade of grass.

But despite his pleasing turnaround in form, the Japan international still hasn’t convinced everybody. Speaking on The 2 Robbie’s Podcast today, former Wimbledon player Robbie Earle has claimed that he’s not sure Endo will ever be the ‘right’ midfielder for Liverpool.

“Do you know what I thought and he does get caught out once or twice with the game being quick, but I thought Endo is starting to show me a little bit more in midfield,” began the pundit.

“I’m not sure he’s ever going to be [right]. But at least I think he’s getting reps and he’s got half a season under his belt and I think he’s going to be better for that.”

Endo still facing uphill battle

For the time being, this is probably the dominant line of thinking surrounding Endo.

Yes, he’s been doing very well recently and is certainly making a lot of people eat their words. But in the long-term, it still feels like Liverpool need an upgrade.

If the former Stuttgart man were four or five years younger, then perhaps those conversations would be a little different.

Endo has certainly shown that he’s capable of being a starter for Liverpool and also appears to be getting better and better.

However, at 30, he does still have the feeling of being a placeholder at Anfield.

That might be unfair, and who knows what Jurgen Klopp is really thinking. Liverpool handed Endo a four-year deal when signing him this summer, so he’s here to stay.

Nevertheless, unless the Japanese suddenly becomes prime N’Golo Kante for the rest of the season, the feeling will continue that the Reds need a younger, top class model.

That’s for the future, though. For the time being Endo is enjoying his football and we’re enjoying watching him. He may not be the right man for the next five years but for the here and now, he’s doing just fine.