There has been a lot of talk around Liverpools midfield rebuild for some time now as they look to climb back to the top of the Premier League, and they have been linked with an abundance of names in recent weeks.
From the entire Moisés Caicedo & Roméo Lavia saga to losing two key players in Fabinho and Jordan Henderson unexpectedly, it has been anything but a smooth transfer window for the Reds.
However, Jürgen Klopp has thrown something of a curveball in bringing in 30-year-old Japan captain Wataru Endō from Bundesliga side Stuttgart.
The signing surprised Liverpool fans and neutrals alike, opinions becoming quickly divided – some are not convinced this is a good signing for Klopps side, likely because of his age and because they have no previous knowledge of the player, but others who have watched Endō play have praised Liverpool for a clever piece of business.
Sure, Endō is not the marquee signing that some expected from Liverpool, but the experienced midfielder adds some much-needed leadership, depth, and stability to Liverpools midfield ranks and could play a vital role in what is sure to be a busy season for the Reds.
Liverpool have had quite the shakeup in midfield this summer, with Henderson and Fabinho leaving, as previously mentioned – but they also lost veteran James Milner, an influential figure on and off the pitch.
While Klopp acted quickly to bring in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, their midfield has been crying out for a more defensive presence.
Endō brings that, but the Reds may still need to bring in a higher-quality defensive midfielder, an anchor-type player.
This scout report will examine why Liverpool opted to make the unexpected signing of Endō, providing a tactical analysis of his role from the 2022/23 Bundesliga season and his technical ability.
The analysis will also delve into how he can greatly benefit Liverpools midfield system in the short term and why he suits Klopps tactics both in and out of possession.
While we will touch on Endōs positional versatility, the scout report will be written assuming he will primarily be deployed as a defensive midfielder.
Wataru Endō Style Of Play
As we mentioned, Endō is approaching the twilight years of his career, aged 30 at the time of writing, which makes it a unique signing for Liverpool, as their transfer policy typically focuses on investing in younger talents.
Klopp has urged Liverpool fans to back Endō, insisting that this is an excellent signing, and after reading this analysis, maybe youll agree with him.
The Japan captain still has plenty left to offer, and Liverpool is his dream move.
For most of the 22/23 season, particularly toward the latter stages, Endō played in a midfield two – often in a 3-4-3, which involves an entirely different approach to a three-man setup in a 4-3-3.
In that role, it can be argued that Endō and his midfield partner at Stuttgart had to embody the attributes of both a defensive midfielder and a playmaker simultaneously, whereas playing as a deep CM in Liverpools midfield three will require a primary focus on defence with the added bonus of being able to contribute effectively in possession.
His heat map shows us that he was required t
