Wataru Endo has admitted that the Premier League is more difficult than Bundesliga after making his competitive debut for Liverpool.
The 30-year-old, who moved to Anfield on Friday was named on the bench for Saturday’s league clash with Bournemouth at Anfield.
The Reds secured a 3-1 win with 10 men after Alexis Mac Allister was shown a straight red card just before the hour mark. Endo climbed off the bench for his first appearance with Diogo Jota netting the hosts’ third goal in between to seal a comfortable victory.
“It was so so quick, you know,” the Japan skipper said.
“At the beginning of the week I was getting ready to play in the Bundesliga, at the end of the week I am playing here at Anfield in front of all these fans – it is crazy. I didn’t have time to do any training, only one day, and so you know I tried to get ready as best I could.
“I am an experienced player, so I need to accept and deal with even this situation, so for me it was hard, but it was special for me. It was amazing to play here, great feeling, great atmosphere, to warm up and the fans were chanting my name, Endo, they made such a special atmosphere, and I am so happy to play at Anfield.
“A lot of my friends and family are watching but not here, because there was not time for anyone to get here – I just said goodbye to my family, and come here. There weren’t even any Japanese journalists who could get here!
“Jurgen Klopp didn’t say a lot to me before I went on, he just said play like I did in Bundesliga, and try to do it like I have always done it, which I did, I think.”
“Premier League teams have individually some very strong players, and so there is a big difference, and also the tempo is a bit different, it is faster. In the Bundesliga nobody has time to take too many touches, but here I have to play one-touch football, for example.
“And yeah, I need to change the mindset, and have to see where the opponents are coming if I want to play as a number six here.”
He added: “I think I need to keep working hard – I need time to do it better, to adapt to the physicality. For me it is a great step (to play at Liverpool), and I have to get ready for the next game.”
Read More Liverpool Coverage:
- Curtis Jones To Miss Liverpool’s Clash Against Bournemouth Due To Ankle Injury
- Liverpool Not Close To Agreement For Fiorentina Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat
- Liverpool Goalkeeper Alisson Becker Not Subject Of Approach From Saudi Arabia
- BREAKING: Liverpool to Sign Midfielder Wataru Endo for £15million
- Report: Fiorentina Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat Is Close To Joining Liverpool
- Report: Cheick Doucoure And Boubacar Kamara Are Admired By Liverpool
- Report: Liverpool Expected To Try For Bayern Munich Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch