Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are doing extremely well at the moment, and one of the players who has come to the fore is Wataru Endo.
Wataru Endo joined Liverpool from VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2023.
Liverpool paid £16.2 million (Sky Sports) in transfer fees for Endo. He was a low-key signing.
After all, Liverpool did not pay a lot of money for the Japan International defensive midfielder. And, he was 30 at the time.
Endo, who is 31 now, did not make an immediate impact at Anfield, but in recent weeks and months, he has started to become a very important player. Micah Richards has been blown away by him.
Rio Ferdinand praises Liverpool star Wataru Endo
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been hugely impressed. The pundit has noted how Endo does his job in defensive midfield efficiently.
Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: “I think Endo, the importance in your team. I watched him against Palace. He is the one that sits there. He didn’t play brilliant, but he just stops counter-attacks as well.”
My View: Wataru Endo should start for Liverpool vs Manchester United
In my opinion, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp should include Wataru Endo in the starting lineup against Manchester United this weekend.
The Red Devils and the Reds will face each other at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
I think that Endo should start. I do not think that the midfielder is particularly great at carrying the team forward, but he could sit in the middle of the park and stop United’s counter-attacks.
Liverpool are likely to have more of the possession and will be more attacking than United. Erik ten Hag’s side could have to resort to playing on the break.
And, in my opinion, Endo could come in handy then. The Japanese star, who was superb against Manchester City, has scored three goals and given one assist in 33 matches in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
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