Wataru Endo sends Jurgen Klopp message after historic display as Liverpool ‘dream’ emerges

Wataru Endo is proving to be an outlier at Liverpool in a variety of ways.

After grudgingly adding Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to a major midfield exodus that includes James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita earlier in the summer, the Reds’ recruitment team’s main objective for the transfer window was to bring in younger and more durable players.

The arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch at the ages of 24, 22, and 21, respectively, have accomplished that, with Jurgen Klopp seemingly keen to rebuild his midfield with technical surety at the forefront of his thinking over the hard-pressing tactics that have characterized the last few years.

Endo, at the age of 30, indicates a departure from that strategy. Instead, he has brought some experience to a team that has seen its average age drop.

In terms of age, Liverpool’s overall recruitment approach is such that Klopp said he had to persuade the club’s Fenway Sports Group owners to authorize the £16 million deal to buy Endo from Stuttgart last month due to their worries.

“We always have a discussion,” Klopp stated. “At 20 years old, the owners really want 200 games.” That is extremely difficult. I didn’t need to be persuaded. In a normal career, the finest time for a football player is between the ages of 27 and 33. Of course, injuries have a role. That’s why I didn’t have to make any changes, and he was on my list from the start.”

However, while Endo has 13 years of professional experience, his age – as Klopp mentions – is not yet in the ballpark where a player’s performance may normally begin to drop. On the contrary, it is believed that the defensive-minded Endo would complement his more forward-thinking and youthful teammates in Liverpool’s new-look engine room this season.

If the surprise, left-field acquisition of the former Stuttgart star raised some eyebrows, it was probably due to the timing of the deal more than anything else. The fact that Endo was bought for £16 million just days after what would have been a British-record £111 million deal for Moises Caicedo fell through added credence to the hypothesis of muddled thinking at Liverpool this summer.

Endo’s relatively low fee and profile as an international captain who could provide trustworthy cover, on the other hand, would have been seen more favorably had he been signed earlier in the window.

“It’s a transfer that is not in the public eye,” Klopp explained. “It’s not, ‘Oh my God!’ and I doubt anyone is writing a new song about him right now.” But hold on.

“He definitely has something that Liverpool fans will enjoy.” He’s already acclimated to [wearing] red, which is a positive thing, and when he puts that shirt on, he’ll throw everything on the pitch, which the fans will adore.”

While many Liverpool fans were unfamiliar with Endo’s abilities previous to his move to Merseyside, many seasoned Bundesliga observers saw the worth in it. When the purchase was done, Klopp received several messages from his hometown thanking him on his foresight, including some World Cup winners.

If his age is different from that of his fellow new entrants, so is his skill set. While Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Gravenberch will provide composure, balance, and comfort in possession in the opposing third of the field, Endo was acquired for his defensive instincts.

Endo will be needed for his ability to cover the ground, snap into tackles, and win the ball back for the team’s more naturally aggressive artisans as the sole natural ‘No.6’ in the squad.

And, given that the Japan captain arrived on Merseyside just a few days after the season began less than a month ago, seeing him gain some valuable minutes for ‘Samurai Blue’ on international duty will be a positive for Klopp, especially when he is starring in a 4-1 win over Germany in Wolfsburg.

Endo’s hard effort and determination in the midfield helped keep Hansi Flick’s men at bay in the Volkswagen Arena, and the Reds boss will have been watching with bated breath.

As a highly proud German, witnessing Endo shine will have left Klopp with mixed feelings on Saturday evening, but he is definitely looking forward to getting back to work on meshing his midfield after the international break.