Wataru Endo made a name for himself as a key member of Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasing Liverpool squad during his first season at Anfield.
The surprise £16 million budget signing from Stuttgart came after Klopp missed out on top targets Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who went to Chelsea instead. The veteran midfielder appeared in 43 games and played 2,758 minutes, more than fellow arrivals Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch combined.
While some questioned his preparedness for the Premier League following a poor start in England, the modest Japan captain made a significant impact around this time last year. He came off the bench to score a sensational equaliser in a 4-3 win over Fulham, then started five games in 13 days, becoming a major component of more controlled performances, including a strong showing in a 2-0 win over Burnley, as Klopp stated: “I loved his game.”According To Daily star News.
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Klopp praised his remarkable performance in a 4-2 victory over Newcastle before departing for the Asia Cup, saying, “What can you expect? That you sign a 30-year-old Japanese captain who will be a top player in the Premier League? We knew he’d be a terrific player, but how he’s playing that role… You never expect someone to become world-class, but that is exactly what occurred.”
He emphasized on Endo’s brief but telling appearance, saying, “He had about seven minutes to make a really good impression. Wata, although just playing five minutes, delivers a performance that speaks volumes about him as a person.”
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