Liverpool’s midfielder Wataru Endo faces shocking defeat in the Asia Cup yesterday despite his appreciable effort

The Japanese national team suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat against Iraq in the race for the Asia Cup yesterday for the second match of the Group D. This defeat comes as a shock as Japan, who’re ranked amongst the top Asian clubs, have won the Asia cup four times before, whilst Iraq was ranked in the 63rd position.

This defeat leaves the Wataru Endo led team in the second position in the group with three points to their name. Endo left Liverpool last month to focus on the Asia Cup. However, should the Japanese national team does lose their final match in the group, they would not be clearing the knock-out stages which might see the 30-year-old returning to his post at the Anfield side earlier than anticipated.

The Reds midfielder scored his first goal for Japan yesterday after three years. His efforts were in vain as their rivals achieved the upper-hand in the game yesterday.

Wataru Endo struggles in vain at the Asia Cup

Despite their valiant efforts, the Japanese team would not have expected Iraq’s dominant form yesterday, who owned the game, courtesy of Aymen Hussein’s double strike in the first half of the game.

The Japanese international’s brief break from Jurgen Klopp’s side was a huge setback for the Merseyside’s midfield. His departure was another blow in the string of injury-related absences from key players like Joel Matip, the team’s captain Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Kostas Tsimikas and Virgil van Dijk. Endo’s departure was paired with Merseyside’s top-scorer Mo Salah who had also left the club to captain the Egyptian national team in the AFCON.

Despite the key absences, the men at the Anfield side have been powering through the season excellently. Klopp has at his disposal, a string of young talents who’re yearning for a chance to shine in their seniors’ absence.

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Youngsters like Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah have stepped up admirably to cover both flanks whilst Conor Bradley has put his flexibility to good use in Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s injury-related absence.