Wataru Endo was eager to get home.
“It was a big day today as my four kids started at their new school,” the amiable Liverpool midfielder tells The Athletic.
“I haven’t heard yet how they found it, but I’m looking forward to hearing all about it. I’m so happy that my family are here finally. We’ve moved into a new house and everything is good. I can’t wait to see them. Family is everything to me.”
The Japan international returned to them with some news of his own — a first Anfield start under his belt and comfortably the best performance he has served up since he arrived from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart for £16million ($19.4m) six weeks ago.
His contribution to the 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup felt like a big step forward in the ongoing process of adapting to what Jurgen Klopp wants from him.
Endo was the left-field solution to a glaring problem when Liverpool bought him as a replacement for Fabinho last month after they missed out on the signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Klopp, who described him as a “late bloomer”, had to convince the owners that it made sense to pay such a fee for a 30-year-old and deviate from the club’s usual transfer policy of investing in younger talent.
It hasn’t been plain sailing for Endo since he signed that four-year contract and it became crystal clear Liverpool wouldn’t be recruiting another specialist No 6 prior to the deadline.
There was a debut off the bench against Bournemouth, followed by a first start away to Newcastle when he was subbed off long before Darwin Nunez turned that contest on its head late on.
In the past three Premier League games, Klopp has favoured Alexis Mac Allister in the holding role. Endo started away to LASK in the Europa League last week but he was unconvincing and was replaced early in the second half before Liverpool rallied and got the job done.
Endo played in one of Europe’s major leagues for the first time in 2020 (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
With stand-in captain and makeshift right-back Curtis Jones the only player retained from Sunday’s league victory over West Ham, Wednesday’s visit of Leicester represented an opportunity for those on the fringes of the squad to stake a claim for more game time, and Endo could certainly be proud of his night’s work.
He completed 47 of his 52 passes (90 per cent) and retrieved possession on 13 occasions, more than any other Liverpool player. He also made four interceptions and won three of his four aerial duels.
Endo looked more composed, more at ease with what had been asked of him, as he used the ball intelligently.
“I enjoyed it so much. I thought I was better than in the other games. I am happy that I was able to show who I am,” he smiled.
“Defensively, I’m trying to adapt. Like I played in the second half tonight, I wanted to play like that at Newcastle and in the Europa game, but I understand I needed some time. It felt so good to play the full 90 minutes and I felt like I was able to make a difference.
“If I keep playing like I did in the second half, then I hope I’ll play more in the Premier League. I feel ready. I have to perform like that in every game.”
Whereas fellow new boys Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who made an instant impact, enjoyed a full pre-season under Klopp, Endo and Ryan Gravenberch are having to learn on the job.
Both tactically and in terms of expectation levels, playing for Liverpool is a far cry from what Endo had been used to at Stuttgart. Klopp’s reign has been littered with examples of players who blossomed after enduring testing starts — not least Fabinho and Andy Robertson.
“The system is different, the game is faster and my position here is a little bit higher than it was,” Endo explained.
“The manager doesn’t want me to just stay in front of the defenders. I have to go higher and try to get the ball all the time.
“Here we have to win every game, but I don’t feel pressure as a result of that. I am humble, but I have the mentality that I’m here because they believe in me. It’s exciting to be a part of it. This is my dream and I’m enjoying it. We have done great so far.”
It’s seven successive wins in all competitions for Liverpool and remarkably this was the fifth time in that sequence that they have come from behind to triumph. It was also their fourth straight win by a 3-1 scoreline.
Endo was heavily involved in the latest resurgence. After collecting a clearance, he picked out the impressive Gravenberch in the build-up to Cody Gakpo’s equaliser. He then pounced on a loose ball in midfield, weighed up his options and expertly threaded it through to Szoboszlai, who had time and space to steady himself before unleashing a ferocious strike into the top corner.
A first assist for Liverpool was followed by some crucial defensive contributions from Endo before Diogo Jota’s cute finish sealed a fourth-round trip to Bournemouth.
“Look at Wataru, how he grew into the game and how dominant he was in the second half, how he really won the balls and passed the ball,” raved Klopp. “He passed the ball through the lines quite frequently. He played a super game.”
As good as Mac Allister has been for Liverpool so far, he isn’t a natural No 6. Getting Endo fully up to speed in the coming weeks would enable the World Cup winner to operate in a more advanced position.
On a night packed full of positives for Klopp, the brilliance of Szoboszlai stole the show, but the sight of Endo stamping his authority on the game bodes well for the challenges ahead. Feeling settled off the field, he’s starting to prove his worth on it.
(Top photo: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
