Jamie Carragher brutally tells Liverpool they should have let ‘cult hero’ go

Jamie Carragher has insisted Liverpool should have released Wataru Endo, claiming he is ‘never going to play’ under Andoni Iraola.

The Japanese midfielder has been a fan favourite since his arrival at Anfield in 2023, but has struggled for minutes in recent years amid injuries and managerial preferences.

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Endo made just 12 appearances in all competitions for Arne Slot last term, with an ongoing ankle issue hampering his progress.

This looks set to continue under new Reds boss Iraola, who is yet to use the 33-year-old off the bench after his first two games in charge.

Endo has now been handed a fresh blow in his Liverpool career, after he was left out of their 25-man squad for the Champions League league phase.

With UEFA squads requiring at least eight ‘homegrown’ players to be included, this left Iraola with some tough decisions to make.

As well as Endo, Federico Chiesa was another notable omission from the squad, who is yet to establish himself since his arrival in 2024.

He and Endo were overlooked in favour of Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, all of whom are recovering from long-term injuries and are not expected back until later this year. 

Also included was 21-year-old midfielder James McConnell, despite him making no first-team appearances since the 2024/25 season.

Carragher questions Liverpool move

With Endo and Chiesa both being overlooked for the start of Liverpool’s European campaign, club legend Carragher admitted the move doesn’t bode well for the pair in their Anfield careers.

Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher said : “Liverpool have got two players in the squad who are never going to play.

“And there are all these quotas, you can only have 17 (non-homegrown) players and all that.

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“They have got Chiesa and Endo. It’s like they are never going to kick a ball.”

Carragher was particularly sympathetic towards Endo, insisting a summer exit would have been in his best interests.

He added: “Endo should have been moved on. He has done great, a bit of a cult hero.”

Endo’s Liverpool career

Endo moved to Anfield in the summer of 2023 under Jurgen Klopp, and was a regular fixture in his first season at Anfield, quickly making himself a fan favourite for his solid displays.

The Japanese star made 44 appearances in all competitions – 34 of which were starts – scoring three goals and tasting League Cup glory.

But the arrival of Arne Slot in 2024 saw his role reduced, as Endo started just one of his 20 appearances in Liverpool’s Premier League-winning 2025/26 campaign.

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Last season proved the utility player’s most challenging year in Red, as injuries restricted him to just 12 outings altogether.

Endo’s fitness woes also saw him miss out on the World Cup in heartbreaking fashion, suffering a foot injury on the eve of the tournament, which then led to him announcing his retirement from international football.

His teammate Chiesa, meanwhile, struggled for minutes under Arne Slot and it appears it will be the same story under Iraola.

He made just five starts last season, but previously declared his aim to revive his Liverpool career under new management this season.