Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits he's happy to have Wataru Endo available.
The Japan midfielder has returned after Japan's Asian Cup campaign.
Klopp said: "Very [important]. Yeah, from that point of view, it might have been the wrong point, besides that we came through that period without him pretty well. That was pretty impressive.
"Wataru before he left was really super-influential on the pitch. He gave us the opportunity in a lot of moments to really involve and use a lot of offensive players around that because his protection was just exceptional. But the playing side of the game as well.
"It's his birthday today, [he] turns 31. [He] looks good since he is back, so he's very important. How I said, with all the problems we have in the moment with players, it's super-important."
