Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has urged his teammates to use their easing injury crisis to power their Premier League title bid in light of recent poor results.
The Reds have emerged as one of the three horses in a frantic run-in for the elusive league crown, somehow keeping up with the pack after months of being tormented by fitness woes.
Bonafide starters such as Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota have all been among those sidelined for extended periods of time in recent months, with Jurgen Klopp’s injury list reaching a staggering tally of 13 at one point.
That said, as soon as the crisis has begun to ease – with the likes of Jota and Curtis Jones making recent returns – Liverpool’s formidable form has started to waver.
After a wasteful outing at Manchester United saw them come away with a measly point, the Reds were humiliated in the Europa League on Thursday – demolished 3-0 by Atalanta at Anfield.
A game that could have easily tanked Liverpool’s European ambitions this term, Endo has now called on his teammates to bounce back from such a devastating defeat, using their increased options to their advantage as Crystal Palace visit Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
“It is a positive that almost everyone is coming back to play,” Endo said.
“So you know I think we are fine and we will stick together and try to win the next game.
“It’s a tough skill to [not let Thursday impact Palace] but as I said, everyone is coming back so we need everyone to play and now we need to win every game. So we just try to get ready for the next game.
“It is always about how we react, it is about the results. Another game is coming so it is just about getting ready for that and we need to step it up to try and win.
“Palace is always a tough opponent but we play at Anfield again so we have to start strongly and offensively we have to make it better. Better than the last few games, yes. I am glad the game is coming this quickly because we have a chance to win again quickly so we just get ready and we want to win the game.”
Endo added that him and his Liverpool teammates owe it to the Anfield faithful to put everything on the line against the Eagles, after sending fans home with an extremely bitter taste in the mouth in midweek.
He said: “Do we have to make it up to the fans? Yes, I think so. We know we have a lot of time to play the next game but there is no problem about that. We are a little bit disappointed but we have to have a good mindset for tomorrow and everyone has to give their all and be positive from Friday onwards.
“Sometimes it happens in football so I tried to give everything like I did before but sometimes a result isn’t there and we can’t get the best result every time and that is sometimes how it is. I will try to give everything for the next game and the next European game.”
