Liverpool  dropped Gravenberch today “many reasons” open and read 

Liverpool  dropped Gravenberch today “many reasons” open and read

Liverpool will be looking to dominate the Tricky Trees at Anfield this afternoon.

HIGHLIGHTS
Liverpool have won their last two matches and are aiming for a third consecutive victory against Nottingham Forest.
Jurgen Klopp could be set to make changes ahead of their midweek Carabao Cup tie as the games keep coming.
Wataru Endo could be a good option to start in midfield, providing a more traditional anchor role and allowing Alexis Mac Allister to thrive in a more advanced position.
Liverpool have emerged from the international break with victories over Everton and French side Toulouse in the Premier League and Europa League respectively, and now have the chance to make it three wins on the bounce against Nottingham Forest at Anfield this afternoon.

Steve Cooper’s side have entered their second season in the English top flight after achieving promotion in 2022 and have so far kept their heads above the murky abyss of the relegation zone this term, but have now gone five Premier League games without a win after a stunning 1-0 display at Stamford Bridge last month.

That result will give the travelling team hope that a major upset can be struck, but Jurgen Klopp will ensure that the hosts are poised to inflict damage on an out-of-form opponent.

Liverpool team news vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool will be expected to bring the firepower today after Klopp made eight changes for the continental clash on Thursday night, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota retaining their places.

Alexander-Arnold will likely play from the outset once again, but the other two might lose their places as rotation is issued to maintain the freshness and fluidity of the Reds’ squad.

Curtis Jones will complete a three-match suspension stemming from his dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur in September, while Andy Robertson will continue his rehabilitation following recent shoulder surgery.

Spanish midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain out, while teenage talent Ben Doak is not expected to be involved after missing Liverpool’s last two matches.

Wataru Endo could be Klopp’s midfield “machine” today
Gravenberch was the man of the hour against Toulouse this week and appears to be a more impressive signing with every passing game, having posted two goals and assists apiece since completing a £34m transfer from Bayern Munich in August.

The Dutchman’s performance led reporter Neil Jones to express that he’s “got the lot”, and his all-action, press-resistant style has allowed him to slot right into Klopp’s system, but it might be wise to drop him back to the bench against Forest.

Having started two matches in succession, relieving the 21-year-old of a starting berth may well be prudent given that a trip to Bournemouth looms on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup.

With this in mind, it would be a good move to unleash Wataru Endo from the start in the Premier League for the first time since the victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park in August.

As per FBref, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for aerial wins per 90, while he was praised as a “machine” in the middle by his manager for his tough and tenacious style following his arrival.

The 5 foot 10 star has also been described as a “proper warrior and leader” by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, and his industriousness in the centre could offer Liverpool a more established and traditional anchor.

In doing so, Alexis Mac Allister could ply his trade further upfield in his more natural role, having assumed the No 6 position across his nine outings in the Premier League for Liverpool.

Whether Klopp will enforce the change remains to be seen, but there’s no denying Endo deserves another shot from the start in the league, and with Gravenberch used regularly of late, it would make sense to make the adjustment and see Mac Allister’s creativity shine as a by-product.

Liverpool will expect to beat an injury-hit Forest team, but no match is certain in the Premier League, and this could be the apt move to make given the circumstances.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angus Sinclair • Freelance Football Writer
(1554 Articles Published)
Angus is a freelance analytical writer for Football FanCast.

Having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2022, Angus found a home at FFC after previously writing for Vavel and OurSoundMusic.

A passionate Liverpool supporter and a lover of statistics, Angus also holds a fondness for MMA and Tennis.

Outside of football, he is a voracious reader with a particular love for fantasy and historical fiction.

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Pundit says he’s not sure Jurgen Klopp trusts Liverpool player right now

Jordan Harris
Sun 29 October 2023 6:15, UK
Steve Nicol has suggested that Jurgen Klopp is yet to fully trust Wataru Endo after he was asked why the Liverpool boss does not start the Japan international more often.

Nicol was speaking to ESPN with the 30-year-old only making one start in the Premier League following his switch to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

Wataru Endo is certainly the summer signing who has had the quietest start to life at Liverpool. He would not have been a household name before his move to Merseyside.

Steve Nicol not convinced Jurgen Klopp trusts Wataru Endo
Dominik Szoboszlai has made a brilliant start. Meanwhile, there have been flashes from both Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.

Endo is the holding midfielder of the quartet. And yet, Jurgen Klopp has tended to use Mac Allister in that deeper role instead.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Steve Nicol suggested that Mac Allister keeping his place in front of the defence is an indication that Endo is yet to really prove himself to Klopp.

“I don’t think he fancies him right now,” he told ESPN. “All the managers use that ‘well, he hasn’t quite settled in yet. He’s still learning the way we play’.

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“I don’t think too many people would argue that to have Szoboszlai and Mac Allister further up would be better. The thing is he can afford to have Mac Allister a little deeper because they are pretty good still at going forward.

“But I don’t think he trusts Endo, I think that’s probably a better word. He doesn’t trust him yet to start him and have the other two further up.”

Positive signs in midweek
It is imperative that Endo takes any opportunities which come his way. Right now, he is struggling for minutes in the Premier League. But Liverpool are battling on several fronts.

Klopp said Endo was insane in Liverpool’s Europa League win over Toulouse in midweek. So that is definitely a positive sign for the summer signing.

It will definitely be good news for Liverpool if Endo can prove himself in that role. It is surely fair to say that the holding role does not play to Mac Allister’s strengths. And there have been a couple of games where he has struggled.

Against some sides, that may not be much of an issue. But there are going to be times where Liverpool’s lack of a world-class holding midfielder may be exposed.

It remains to be seen whether Endo will be able to fill that void over the coming months. But you would think that he is going to get the chances to really show what he can do.

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