Wataru Endo suprise transfer to Liverpool(2023)
The Japan international's move to Anfield has taken everyone by surprise - so is the 30-year-old the answer to Jurgen Klopp's midfield problem?
Without much ado let's quickly have a glance at his current form and what he brings to the table and how he could make up for Liverpool's failure to get Caicedo and or Lavia who have moved to Chelsea
Although not an especially vocal player, Endo also emerged as one of the most important figures in the dressing room and became known as 'Stuttgart's silent leader'.
Endo is known as 'The Duel King' in Japan - and with good cause, given no midfielder has been involved in more (1274) since making his Bundesliga debut in September 2020. He also ranks second for both possession won (706) and successful tackles (207).
Endo is versatile too, though, capable of playing at centre-back, as he has done on occasion for Stuttgart
However, he's not only adept at stopping attacks but starting them too - because of his fantastic range of passing. He always seems to know when and where to distribute the ball. He's got great awareness and excellent decision-making skills. This is why he's such a valuable player and such a pleasure to watch on a football field."
As seen against Chelsea our midfield looks to have no balance with Fabinho and Henderson gone. Liverpool lack a leader, a defensive holding midfield, and someone that is happy to sacrifice to help his game for the team.The the defense was left open many times due to not having a competent DM and trend vacating spaces as he ventures into midfield, we known trent is a good passer but playing in midfield is a whole different issue as he wont always get that much time for that killer pass,Jones is still adapting , bajetic is raw, Vand Dijk looks past his best and Robertson is adapting to a more defensive role, contrary to his offensive role in recent years, Konate is the only one who looks stable as of now.
Hence Endo is a step in the right direction but we still have many defensive issues to worry about.
Comments