”While some clubs lack leaders, Liverpool can boast five international captains in their squad. The latest, Japan’s Wataru Endo, acknowledges his signing was a ‘surprise’ but insists Jürgen Klopp knows what he’s doing filling the midfield hole vacated by Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
Endo’s deal from Stuttgart was rushed less than a fortnight before the transfer window shut when Liverpool lost out to Chelsea for Moises Caicedo.
At 30, the tigerish midfield holder doesn’t fit the normal younger profile of Liverpool signings. But the team is unbeaten in the four starts he’s made so far with another likely at Brighton on Sunday with Curtis Jones suspended.
‘It was a surprise to Liverpool fans for me to come here but the manager knew me very well as a player. That was a very important thing,’ says Endo.
‘I had conversations with him. He told me Liverpool were such an attacking team, they needed a number six, a defensive midfielder. That’s why I came.”
“Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has revealed he was surprised at his summer move.”
Jurgen Klopp drafted in Japan captain Endo to fill the role vacated by Jordan Henderson.
“I watched his matches when he was at Dortmund because my ex-coach liked to copy Klopp’s style of play,” said Endo.
Klopp told Endo that he had known of him when he was at Stuttgart.
Liverpool’s recent successes came with a midfield trio of James Milner, Henderson, and Gini Wijnaldum complementing the famous front three of Salah, Firmino, and Mane. Bringing it forward, Endo’s strengths should allow Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister the license to create.
He joins a dressing room full of leaders. Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Andy Robertson (Scotland), Mo Salah (Egypt), and Szoboszlai (Hungary) are their national team captains. Among Endo’s players with Japan is Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma. Fans will stay up in Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama late on Sunday night to see their countrymen do battle.
Endo’s strengths will provide Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister with the freedom to create.
There are five international captains in Liverpool’s dressing room, with Virgil van Dijk being one of them.
Endo has fit into the dressing room. He speaks decent English from his time in Germany, and so do his children who went to an international school there and joined him on Merseyside last week.
“The Bundesliga is also fast and strong. The difference here is the German teams like to sit back more when they defend, here at Liverpool we always press high,” reflects Endo, who was a substitute during last weekend’s dramatic defeat at Spurs when VAR failed to award Liverpool’s Luis Diaz a legitimate goal.
“What I do in a game hasn’t changed from what I did with Stuttgart and the national team. Whatever game I watch, I look out for the No6 position to see how they play.
“The first couple of games were difficult because we went down to 10 men. I think I’ve adapted and showing my best on the pitch.
“I feel more comfortable and it helps the other players are also beginning to know me better.”
Klopp’s decision to withdraw Endo and Mo Salah at half-time during Thursday’s Europa League win against Union Saint-Gilloise indicates he sees the Japanese star as a starter at the Amex.
Endo is only the 12th Japanese player to appear in the Premier League. He, Mitoma, and Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu are the only current ones, and Sunday’s game will carry big bragging rights in the Far East.
The anchor believes his example shows that dreams for footballers of all ages can come true.
“It will be a pleasure to face Mitoma,” said Endo. “There aren’t that many Japanese players here, so the fans there are interested.
“I was 30 when I came to Liverpool – a big surprise. It shows all the footballers in Japan, keep dreaming, if you keep improving it can happen. The dream can come true.
“I hope there is respect for Japanese football now. I thought Mitoma might do well here and he has done.
“Liverpool fans in Japan will stay up and watch! They want us to achieve, and we will try to challenge for as many titles as possible.”
