Liverpool missed out on a $135 million summer transfer, but Jürgen Klopp may have opened the door to a player who is now on the brink of reaching new heights.

On Thursday night, Liverpool’s significant victory over Toulouse meant more than just securing three points. It was about how Jürgen Klopp’s team controlled and dominated the match, as well as the outstanding individual performances in what was an almost flawless evening for the Reds on the football pitch.

The Liverpool manager now faces some intriguing decisions ahead of Sunday’s match against Nottingham Forest, especially in midfield. Despite Curtis Jones’ suspension and the injury to the team’s seasoned midfielder, Thiago, Klopp has a surplus of options. The team he fielded on Thursday had a point to prove, and they certainly did.

In addition to Ryan Gravenberch, another recent addition, Wataru Endō, left his mark on Thursday night with a commanding performance. Endō not only scored his first goal for Liverpool but also provided the kind of defensive midfield display the team had been missing since Fabinho’s decline in form and subsequent departure.

The Japanese captain asserted his dominance on the field, thwarting Toulouse’s attempts to counterattack Liverpool. He remained composed in possession, completing an impressive 96% of his passes. In total, Endō won ten duels, made three interceptions, and recovered four balls in a highly impressive performance from the midfielder.

Endō’s performance in a Liverpool shirt was undeniably convincing, marking the closest he has come to showcasing the form that prompted Klopp and his recruitment team to pursue him in the summer. Finally, Klopp allowed Endō to take command of the midfield by unleashing his ability to win duels.

Endō excels at this particular aspect of the game. In his book “Duel,” he describes how, before moving to Germany and learning that there was a statistic to measure a player’s duel-winning ability, he often felt that he wasn’t taken seriously as a defensive player. From that point on, Endō wrote in his autobiography, he was motivated to become the Bundesliga’s top duel winner, and he achieved that goal.

“I’ve never heard of it before, but it sounded familiar,” he stated. “Although I was genuinely pleased to see my face in the top spot, I began to wonder if there was really a slim probability of being recognized. I thought, ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll win this duel.’ As the season came to a finish, that emotion just got greater.”

Endō was so determined to win the title that even after being suspended and unable to participate in the season’s last match, he continued to monitor his nearest competitor to ensure he hadn’t overtaken him.

In addition to these commitments, he has hired a personal trainer, excelled in one-on-one situations, and improved his physique to ensure he can win defensive scenarios against opponents taller or stronger than him by effectively using his body.

Liverpool fans witnessed this commitment against Toulouse. Endō is a beast on the field due to his dedication to his craft and his relentless pursuit of every ball. As the season progresses, Liverpool should make more use of this quality.

The Reds signed Endō solely because they were unable to sign Moisés Caicedo, for whom they had agreed to pay a club record $135 million (£111 million/€127 million), even though they were able to acquire Endō for a much smaller sum. Judging by what the two players have demonstrated at their respective teams so far, Liverpool might have obtained better value for their money.