Liverpool analysis – Jurgen Klopp sends clear message to Wataru Endo as brutal new reality bites

After Liverpool defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 in the Europa League, Ian Doyle provided analysis.

Endo puts forward case

To say that Liverpool would ever use the Europa League as an audition for a prominent position in the Premier League would be pushing things a bit.

The three midfielders, however, were aware that by playing against Union Saint-Gilloise, they were likely putting themselves in position to take Curtis Jones’ place for the trip to Brighton on Sunday.

The most significant move Jurgen Klopp made on Thursday night may have been to replace Wataru Endo at halftime, despite the fact that Ryan Gravenberch was the star and Harvey Elliott managed the entire 90 minutes.

One of a number of pre-planned changes that also saw Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez leave was the substitution of the Japan international.

Additionally, Endo appeared to have contributed enough during his 45-minute outing to raise the possibility that he might start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister on Sunday.

After Jurgen Klopp gets what he needs in a victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, Liverpool cannot avoid perverse irony, according to PAUL GORST.

His earlier performances were no longer hindered by the uncertainty; this is the second midweek in a row that he has looked much more at ease playing the number six position. Endo appears to be the player Klopp claimed Liverpool had acquired.

Unquestionably, the ex-Stadt player offers a defensive mindset that none of the other senior midfield options possess, which would undoubtedly make him crucial against the free-scoring Seagulls at a ground where the Reds were defeated twice last season.

Konate poses question

The struggle for a starting spot in Liverpool’s center of defense has been one of the season’s more captivating subplots thus far.

When he was available, club captain Virgil van Dijk was chosen first. However, the struggle for dominance resumes after that.

After missing a fortnight due to a muscle complaint, Ibrahima Konate, who had begun the season alongside Van Dijk, was only able to make two quick cameo appearances in the Premier League, which allowed Joel Matip to surpass him in the standings.

Because of this, the Cameroonian has missed cup games this year and was again on the bench as Konate started his third straight game.
Konate started the previous two games alongside the inexperienced but unflappable Jarell Quansah, who once again quietly impressed.

Despite being aware that he would be up against the powerful Union striker Gustaf Nilsson in the first half in particular, Konate accepted the challenge.

The Frenchman successfully staked his claim to keep his place at Brighton, where Matip had a nightmare alongside Konate in January, despite a few hesitant moments after the break and one tackle that, while executed properly, risked giving away a penalty.
Which of the two steps out on the South Coast is a real choice for Klopp.

European reality bites

The fact that this was distinctly not the Champions League cannot be denied under any circumstances.

This smelt and felt like a Europa League evening based on the lack of pre-match excitement, aside from the cheers from the enthusiastic traveling crowd, and the pre-match anthem.

The razzmatazz that was sorely lacking from a somber occasion could not be filled by even the second-half reunion of the Mac Allister brothers, Alexis and Kevin talking for a considerable amount of time on the touchline prior to kickoff.

Liverpool was just happy to get back on the horse without incident after their 19-game unbeaten streak was ended in such contentious circumstances, which may not have been surprising given the ongoing fallout from events at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Diogo Jota, who, like Curtis Jones, will be suspended on Sunday, provided the winning goal in stoppage time as a parting gift.

But on a night when finishing the job was the only thing that mattered, it was a forgettable one.
After the international break, Liverpool will play two games against Toulouse, who are currently second in the group after defeating LASK 1-0 at home on Thursday. Liverpool will want to secure first place as soon as possible.