Klopp explains why Wataru Endo has barely featured since Liverpool transfer

Jurgen Klopp has insisted Wataru Endo is a "super-important" player for Liverpool, despite the midfielder's lack of minutes so far this season.

Endo is one of four new midfielders the Reds signed over the summer

Endo, however, has been limited to just 91 minutes of Premier League action since joining the club from Stuttgart in August

Klopp has now explained the reasons behind his lack of game time.

Klopp said the Japan international was still getting used to life at Anfield and claimed the fact he is "very calm and very polite" had "cost him the first two weeks".

He also insisted the 30-year-old "will start games" and that he is "not a short-term project".

Klopp said:

"He needs to get used to the things here. Wataru is a super guy, very calm and very polite and that cost him the first two weeks, maybe. That's now getting there. He is not 30 or whatever and wants to get some people out of the way to get into the team, but he is improving every day.

"You saw that today, he is there, he will help us a lot, he will play games, he will start games and all these kinds of things.

"It's all good, he had already three or four games now for us in a very short period. That is what counts, it is not a short-term project.

"Wataru is a super-important part of the squad and I am really happy to have him."