Liverpool completed the rather surprise signing of Japan captain Wataru Endo at the back end of last week in an attempt to remedy the major problems faced by Jurgen Klopp’s midfield from a defensive standpoint. 

The former Stuttgart man made his Reds’ bow in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday, sent on to sure up the side after the dismissal of Alexis Mac Allister. 

Albeit only a Liverpool player for a little over 24 hours, there were signs that Endo could be the ideal operator to help out a leaky midfield.

‘Destined For Greatness’ | Japanese Football Expert On Wataru Endo

To find out a little more about Liverpool’s new number three, I spoke to Stuttgart youth goalkeeping coach and friend of Endo, Yusaburo Matsuoka. 

He said: “He may not be the tallest player in Europe but he is very strong in duels and has the ability to steal the ball. Not only that, he is aggressive in attack and creates many chances. His judgement is excellent and he always makes the right decisions and choices. 

“In his private life, he is a father of four. He always thinks about his family and even if he is tired from the game, he spends time with them and is a very kind father. 

“Wataru can steal a lot of the ball and kill the opponents’ chances, I think he can bring consistency to Liverpool’s defence. He also has the ability to steal the ball and attack, so I think he can contribute to the attack by switching from defence to attack. 

“He has always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and it came true. I think he will not only play in the Premier League from here but also fight for results. I’m looking forward to seeing Wataru in action.”

‘He’s Moises Caicedo Light!’ | Opta Analyst on Wataru Endo

Redmen Reacts

A relatively unknown signing, finding out more from Endo from those who knew him best is an important part of understanding our new man and what he could bring to The Reds. 

Moreover, adding a specialist number six to Klopp’s squad is pivotal ahead of games with Newcastle United and Aston Villa, especially with Mac Allister potentially absent following his red card. 

Let’s hope Endo – who was also described to me as a ‘great player and person’ by former Stuttgart assistant manager Peter Perchtold – can offer all Yusaburo has described and etch himself in as a Liverpool favourite in no time…