'It was tough' – Wataru Endo gives honest reflection on start to life at Liverpool

New signing Wataru Endo described his start at Liverpool as 'tough' but 'good', while on a visit to his former club in Germany.

The 30-year-old Japan captain was a surprise summer signing by the Reds, arriving in a deal worth around £16m from Stuttgart, after high-profile moves for Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo both fell apart.

Endo was little-known in England before his arrival, but had built a reputation in Germany as one of the Bundesliga's best defensive midfielders, joining Stuttgart from Sint-Truiden in Belgium back in 2019.

The Yokohama-born midfielder returned to his former club during the international break, after he led the Blue Samurai to impressive wins over Germany and Turkey in Europe.

After reconnecting with his old teammates, Endo reflected on a whirlwind month, which has seen him thrown in at the deep end for Liverpool.

"It's actually quite busy but I had a good few weeks because I played three games and three wins," Endo told Stuttgart's official club website. "Of course it was tough because I played with 10 men (laughs) so that's a bit sad for me but it was a good start for me."

READ MORE: What Wataru Endo can bring to Liverpool's midfield

Endo also thanked the Stuttgart fans for the love they have shown him, adding that the German club remains his 'family'.

Liverpool's new number three said: "I saw the pictures in the stadium in the first game against Bochum, they showed a message to me. I feel very thankful and I'm happy about the VfB fans. I'm going to miss the guys but this is my new challenge, I'll do my best.

"This club is my family so I feel happy to see my teammates, staff, trainers and I didn't have time to say goodbye. I'm so happy to say to have that company with my teammates. I'm very honoured to have played at this club, I also wish you all the best."

With Alexis Mac Allister one of the last Liverpool players to return to team training following his international duty in South America, Endo could be in line for only his second start when the Reds face Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.