One underrated Liverpool star has excelled on international duty and has continued to perform for club and country.
Liverpool are embarking one of their most important transfer windows in under a decade with Arne Slot coming into Anfield to replace Jurgen Klopp.
The Merseyside club finished third in the Premier League in Klopp’s final season, which was certainly an improvement on the fifth placed finish they suffered in the season prior.
Part of this improvement was down to the recruitment they made in the midfield department with Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo being brought in, and the Japanese international has exceeded expectations.
Endo performs well on international duty
Japan picked up a 5-0 win over Syria and Endo excelled for the national team as he continues to be very underrated.
Endo had 77 touches of the ball with a 93% passing accuracy. He won 100% of his tackles and made nine recoveries for Japan.
He has helped his country to a perfect qualification record so far. After six games, Japan have won all six, and scored 24 goals.
Most impressively, Japan are yet to concede a single goal in their group, with Endo’s tireless midfield displays in front of the defense playing a key role.
Endo joined the club last summer for a fee in the region of £16 million, as per the BBC and that looked to be a rushed signing but the Japanese international was one of the club’s best players.
Liverpool brought in Endo after missing out on Ecuador international Moises Caicedo and Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.
Endo looked to be a rather underwhelming signing for the Reds but the 31-year-old has arguably proven to be the best out of the trio this season.
With Lavia’s injury problems and Caicedo’s struggles, Endo has proven to be a reliable performer and he could be vital for Slot.
Liverpool’s midfield
HITC have previously reported that midfield is not one of the areas that the club are looking to strengthen with the decision makers believing their current options are good enough.
New contracts for key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk are understood to be the priority for the Reds with the renewal of the Englishman one of the club’s priorities.
With this news, Liverpool should continue with Endo as he has been a superb performer for the Reds and could be key going forward.
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