Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo moved to Liverpool from Stuttgart in the summer of 2023.
Although he struggled with the Premier League and Klopp’s style of play in the early stages of the season, he gradually got used to it and continued to play as the mainstay of the midfield from the middle of the season.
New manager Arne Slot is looking for a different style of play from the defensive midfielder. He has gained trust from scratch, but has become more aware of carrying the ball as well as mowing it, and has recently been introduced midway through the game to close the game down.
The 31-year-old midfielder has shown a high degree of adaptability, a quality that may have been developed as a child.
When asked about players he admired, he cited former Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, and revealed that he used him as a reference for the top-level moves he displayed in midfield and the final line.
“Mascherano. He played as a six but also played as a defender.”
“He’s not tall but he could play both midfielder and centre-back. I was a defender when I was a boy and I was not tall as a centre-back, so I watched his game a lot.”
“For me, it’s like a dream came true [to be playing in the Premier League]. I watched Premier League games a lot when I was a boy and I always dreamed that I want to be a Premier League player.”
“I can’t even imagine that [he is now playing in the same position for Liverpool as Mascherano] but I’m very happy, a dream come true.”
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Mascherano formed a strong midfield line-up with Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. At Anfield he was a defensive midfielder who tackled the ball away with abundant athleticism and precise timing, but at Barcelona he played more as a centre-back.
Under the Dutch coach, the former Argentine midfielder is asked to play in a different role, but will the dexterous Japanese midfielder be able to compete for regular places again?