Liverpool followers may very well be forgiven for rolling their eyes a little bit when, again in August, Jurgen Klopp described the signing of Wataru Endo as “a genius strike.”
Simply days earlier, the Reds had missed out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea regardless of having had a £111 million bid accepted by Brighton.
And so it didn’t really feel that they had been being overly sensible in choosing up a 30-year-old, who had spent the final two seasons battling relegation from the Bundesliga with Stuttgart, in its place.
However, after a gradual begin to his Anfield profession, Endo has began to indicate his price at a time when Liverpool have most wanted him.
The Japan worldwide had beforehand loved the odd encouraging outing within the Europa League, however has noticeably stepped issues up since a current late equaliser in opposition to Fulham.
And that has coincided with an harm to Alexis Mac Allister that has seen him promoted to the function of standard starter within the Premier League.
After serving to declare wins at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, Endo was notably spectacular as Liverpool dominated Man United in each side aside from discovering the again of the web final Sunday.
Then, he put in one in every of his greatest performances but in opposition to West Ham on Wednesday because the Reds booked their place within the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Sure, this may increasingly have been a home cup tie, nevertheless it got here in opposition to an opponent who’re firmly within the race for a European spot within the Premier League and who’re going nicely in continental competitors this time period.
In that context, making extra recoveries than some other participant (9), profitable 4 out of six floor duels and finishing 96 p.c of your passes is worthy of reward.
Endo has put up these types of numbers more and more incessantly of late, evidencing that his adaptation to the calls for of English soccer is nearly full.
The 30-year-old had admitted being shocked by the tempo of the sport right here throughout conversations with journalists shortly after his arrival, however appears much more acclimatised now.
And the success of that transition is such that you just ponder whether, as so many have claimed, the January signing of Joao Palhinha would transfer the dial sufficiently for this crew.
The Portuguese’s excessive deal with quantity (2.89 per 90 to Endo’s 1.6) is usually cited as a motive why he could be a transformative addition in Klopp’s engine room.
But that has are available in a Fulham crew who’ve averaged 11 p.c much less possession than Liverpool throughout their 17 matches, leading to extra alternatives – or want – to make challenges.
Equally, Endo’s per 90 go development of 231.6 yards to Palhinha’s 154.1 is a mirrored image of the differing calls for on a Liverpool participant, nevertheless it must be talked about that anybody who has watched the latter carefully might additionally inform you he’s no deep-lying playmaker.
For that motive, it’s not laborious to think about Liverpool believing they will get by with what they’ve within the anchor function till a real game-changer turns into obtainable.
That dream participant would little question be on the cusp of their peak years and in possession of world-class high quality in each progressing the ball and profitable it – for instance Aurelien Tchouameni previous to his Actual Madrid transfer.
However till another choice to the Frenchman emerges, Endo seems to be like a perfect stop-gap to share duties with Mac Allister within the No. 6.
In fact, arguably his greatest check to this point awaits on Saturday, when Arsenal come to city for an early conflict between two Premier League title contenders.
Mikel Arteta’s facet look sturdy in midfield and are seemingly extra resilient than in previous seasons when visits to Anfield have led to drubbings.
So, ought to Endo handle to play a key function in allotting one other defeat to the Gunners, then maybe there can be just a few extra followers prepared to affix Klopp in describing his £16 million arrival as “a genius strike.”
