When is Wataru Endo back from Asian Cup? Return date, games missed for Liverpool midfielder on Japan duty

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup forms part of a busy international schedule in the coming weeks as the tournament gets underway from January 12 in Qatar.

Four-time winners Japan will be looking to avenge their defeat to Qatar in the 2019 final and the Samurai Blue are one of the strongest teams in the competition.

Japan are the most successful team in the competition's history and they have a squad filled with European-based talent.

Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma is the key player in attack, but captain Wataru Endo is a crucial part of the Japan midfield, and the former VfB Stuttgart star has made a positive start at Liverpool this season.

 Premier League players at Asian Cup 2023: List of stars missing club games

Endo will miss a minimum of three games for Liverpool at the AFC Asian Cup with Japan's group stage ending on January 24.

He will be absent for both legs of the Carabao Cup semifinals against Fulham, on January 10 and 24, either side of a Premier League trip to Bournemouth on January 21.

If Japan make it through to the Round of 16, he will miss the FA Cup Fourth Round tie against either Norwich City or Bristol Rovers on January 28 and the Premier League game at home to Chelsea on January 31.

Liverpool face two Premier League games during the quarterfinal-to-final stage, from February 2-10, against Arsenal on February 4 and Burnley on February 10, with Endo's availability depending on how far Japan progress.

The group stages end on January 25, with the knockout rounds starting three days later, and the final is scheduled for February 10.

The full details are listed below.

Endo's move to Liverpool at the start of the 2023/24 season came as part of a midfield revamp by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield with Alexis Mac Allister an