By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com
Oh, how I used to be incorrect.
Wataru Endo‘s minutes in pre-season had been regular however, with Liverpool pushing to signal a brand new No. 6 and Ryan Gravenberch swiftly put in to the first-choice XI upon his return from a post-Euros break, he was clearly out of favour.
So when a suggestion from Marseille arrived on the finish of July – duly rejected however with sources on Merseyside indicating that, with a variety of golf equipment from Germany additionally , an exit can be granted – it appeared reasonable that he would transfer on.
Round 900 phrases have been penned for This Is Anfield arguing that, because the third-oldest participant within the squad with the seventh-longest contract, these inside Liverpool’s hierarchy would view a fast sale as beneficial – even at a slight loss.
The sense that his £16 million signing from Stuttgart, pushed by after failed bids for Moisés Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, was nothing greater than a stopgap was magnified by change within the dugout.
However no switch materialised, that £11.8 million provide from the south of France representing the extent of any concrete approaches for the Japan captain.
Even then, although, it was communicated that he would battle for recreation time, with the following rise of Gravenberch working as a No. 6 to world-class requirements suggesting that, as a extra conventional defensive midfielder, Endo was an ailing match.
Arne Slot‘s use of Endo within the first two-and-a-half months of the marketing campaign – simply two begins, each within the Carabao Cup, and 4 extra substitute appearances totalling 4 minutes off the bench – indicated that the pinnacle coach felt the identical manner.
Given how Liverpool’s system feeds off the progressive, line-breaking means of Gravenberch within the deep-lying function, there appeared little place for the 32-year-old past a job as skilled rotation for the cups.
There had been few alterations typically between video games as Slot oversaw a snug routine in these first months of the season, however the lack of possibilities may have been jarring for a participant who was among the many 10 most-used gamers in Jürgen Klopp’s remaining marketing campaign – even with a pause for the Asia Cup with Japan.
However issues started to vary across the finish of October, together with a whopping 13 minutes after changing Darwin Núñez in a 2-1 victory over Brighton – Endo’s longest cameo thus far within the Premier League at the moment.
A daily within the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, there now seems a larger appreciation for what Endo can provide whether or not instead or a starter, significantly because the Reds look to carry onto slender leads.
That was no extra obvious than within the 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield, the place he got here on for Luis Díaz and shut down an rising risk for the guests as Slot tasked him with a man-marking job on Matheus Cunha.
“[He told me] I’ve to go in every single place, cowl everywhere in the pitch,” the midfielder instructed LFCTV after the sport.
In 19 minutes of regular time Endo contested 5 duels, profitable three of them, forcing two fouls from Wolves gamers whereas committing two himself.
Following Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa, the veteran has featured in 15 of Liverpool’s 27 video games for the reason that begin of November, with Núñez the one participant used extra off the bench within the marketing campaign as an entire.
Although his on-ball remit was restricted to solely 9 touches he accomplished all 5 of his tried passes, two of which have been into the ultimate third.
It was a efficiency that summed up precisely what he provides to Liverpool on this lowered function: sharp and aggressive, whereas providing the dynamism that maybe Slot didn’t see in him throughout these early months of his reign.
Endo is probably not the identical sort of No. 6 as Gravenberch – neither is he much like major summer season goal Martin Zubimendi – however the suggestion that he merely doesn’t match into Slot’s system is misguided.
Klopp’s reward following a goalscoring show in a 5-1 victory over Toulouse highlighted that Endo can provide greater than is probably anticipated of him.
“The ahead passes he performed tonight have been completely unbelievable,” Klopp stated on the time. “And the way usually he broke strains with one contact, that was completely insane.”
Actually there’s a rising feeling that Slot ought to be using his skills extra prominently, particularly as indicators of damage begin to present on Gravenberch within the engine room.
Gravenberch is on track to take pleasure in his busiest season but as a senior skilled and the choice to substitute him after simply an hour in opposition to Everton confirmed that even he’s vulnerable to tiring.
But in a recreation performed out within the frenzied environment of Goodison Park’s remaining derby, Slot noticed match to go away Endo unused, with Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones his nominal No. 6s and Diogo Jota changing Díaz within the remaining throes at 2-1 up.
The occasions that unfolded in extra time, as James Tarkowski volleyed in probably the most sudden of equalisers, have been actually avoidable and there’s sturdy a case to argue that one other defender on the pitch would have helped.
Related occurred in Liverpool’s draw at Villa Park, with an ailing trio of Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai – together with the extra superior Curtis Jones – toiling to keep up the depth whereas a seasoned midfielder sat dormant.
It stays a undeniable fact that Slot is but to begin Endo in a Premier League fixture, whereas his solely begin in eight Champions League video games got here as a part of a closely rotated aspect within the useless rubber at PSV Eindhoven.
And that would immediate the query of whether or not he totally trusts his talents even at this stage, after months of convincing cameos and steadfast shows beginning within the cups – whilst a centre-back on a variety of events.
Simply as this author was incorrect to doubt Endo’s affect when measured in opposition to the worth of an eight-figure bid, it’s nonetheless value asking whether or not Slot is incorrect to not give him extra of a highlight in higher-profile video games.
In any case, every part thrown at Liverpool’s No. 3 to this point he has handled to the best commonplace.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
To maintain updated with every part Liverpool, ensure you click on comply with on the workforce profile within the FotMob app. Obtain the free app right here.