Amongst quite a few adjustments to the Liverpool beginning XI for tonight’s Carabao Cup conflict in opposition to Southampton, one participant was hailed as an ‘final skilled’ for the efficiency that he put in at St Mary’s.
Wataru Endo lined up in an unfamiliar centre-back function on the staff sheet, though he stepped into his extra customary midfield place each time the Reds had been in possession.
Making simply his third begin of the season (all on this competitors), the 31-year-old confirmed his expertise on an evening when a number of of his teammates had been an incredible deal youthful than him.
Endo praised as ‘final skilled’
Taking to X at half-time within the match, Bence Bocsak singled out the Japanese midfielder for reward following his exploits on the south coast.
The journalist posted: “Wataru Endo gained essentially the most duels (5) and essentially the most tackles (3) for #LFC in that first half. Solely misplaced two passes out of 43 makes an attempt. Displaying his true worth for the Reds. Final skilled.”
🇯🇵 Wataru Endo gained essentially the most duels (5) and essentially the most tackles (3) for #LFC in that first-half.
Solely misplaced two passes out of 43 makes an attempt.
Displaying his true worth for the Reds. Final skilled. pic.twitter.com/7hdSdo3stU
— Bence Bocsák (@BenBocsak) December 18, 2024
Endo was an unsung hero for Liverpool tonight
The reward from Bocsak was absolutely merited, with Endo’s full-time statistics illustrating his significance to Liverpool at St Mary’s.
As per Sofascore, the Reds’ quantity 3 gained a whopping 11 duels out of 13 contested, accomplished 79 of his 85 passes (93%), made 4 tackles, two clearances and two interceptions, misplaced the ball solely six occasions from 101 touches and earned 4 free kicks for his facet.
Theo Squires gave the 31-year-old a 7 out of 10 in his participant rankings for the Liverpool Echo, noting how the midfielder ‘coated far’ within the defensive third and ‘performed an necessary function’ in Harvey Elliott’s purpose together with his link-up with Cody Gakpo, in addition to how he ‘flung himself into tackles’.
When Trent Alexander-Arnold was substituted at half-time, Endo even had the honour of captaining his membership in thereafter, main the way in which with a selfless efficiency. Admittedly he discovered it a problem to shackle the big Paul Onuachu within the second half, however he gained’t be alone in that regard.
The Japan worldwide mightn’t have featured an entire lot for the Reds this season, however tonight he confirmed Slot what he can provide to the staff when given a possibility.
