The reaction among the wider fanbase to the identity of Fabinho’s replacement was initially underwhelming. With Liverpool’s options dwindling fast,
some viewed Endo as a panic buy.
But, internally, senior Anfield figures never saw it that way. The data highlighted Endo as one of the Bundesliga’s best-performing midfielders in key metrics such as duel success, winning possession, tackles and attacking sequence involvements.
The character references obtained by interim sporting director Jorg Schmadtke were glowing. As well as his leadership and work ethic, Endo’s durability was viewed as a major plus given he had sat out just three league matches over the previous three seasons combined.
Liverpool pointed to the four-year contract they had given Endo as proof he wasn’t viewed as a short-term fix. Despite the ongoing speculation, there was never any chance of them recruiting another specialist No 6.
Understandably, Endo needed some time to settle. There were four days between the call he received from his agent about Liverpool’s interest and his debut against Bournemouth. He didn’t have the luxury of a pre-season under Klopp.
The pace and physicality of the game required an adaptation period, as did the manager’s desire for his No 6 to operate higher up the field than Endo had been used to. He only started one league match before mid-November, with Alexis Mac Allister preferred in the holding role.
Shy and unassuming, Endo slowly came out of his shell around the training complex and grew in stature. Klopp and his staff have regularly reinforced to him that he belongs at this level.
Endo, who has four children,
was snubbed by J1 League clubs as a youngster before playing in Japan’s second tier, then launching his career in Europe in the modest surroundings of Sint-Truiden in Belgium, and then going from benchwarmer to adored skipper at Stuttgart. He is no stranger to digging deep to prove people wrong.
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