Wataru Endo decision leaves Liverpool path free for Stefan Bajcetic
Wataru Endo has confirmed that he would feature for Japan at this summer’s Olympic games if he was selected, according to This is Anfield.
Writing on their website [June 25], Endo is under consideration to be selected as one of the over-age players for the competition.
Liverpool could be without their midfielder for the majority of Arne Slot’s first pre-season at the club.
The tournament in Paris is scheduled to take place between July 24 and August 10.
Endo cemented himself in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield following his £16million switch from Stuttgart last summer [Sky Sports News, 18 August].
His decision to potentially miss a large portion of pre-season could benefit the returning Stefan Bajcetic.
Stefan Bajcetic could become regular starter for Liverpool
The 19-year-old’s resurgence to the first-team in the 2022/23 season was one of few positives to take from that campaign.
Liverpool missed out on Champions League football in what would prove to be Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate season.
He only managed 99 minutes of football last season as a calf injury kept him off the pitch [Transfermarkt].
As per Sofascore, the underlying numbers suggest that Bajcetic could be ready to replace Endo in the starting line-up.
The Spaniard made 12 Premier League appearances in his breakout campaign compared to Endo’s 29 apps.
Despite significantly more game time, Bajcetic won 64 percent of aerial duels and 45 percent of his total duels.
Endo won 53 percent of aerial duels contested and 44 percent of total duels in comparison.
On top of 0.8 interceptions per game to Endo’s 0.7, Bajcetic is more than capable of occupying Endo’s spot in the first-team.
However it is the contributions on the other end of the pitch where Bajcetic shines in comparison.
Endo averaged 0.3 shots per game with 0.1 shots on target.
In 18 less Premier League matches, Bajcetic averaged 0.5 shots per game with 0.3 shots on target.
The Japan captain created 0.6 key passes per game and completed 67 percent of his dribbles.
But with 0.3 key passes per game and 64 percent successful dribbles, Bajcetic is not far off matching Endo’s impact.
And he might now have the perfect opportunity to stake claim ahead of Endo.
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