A lot of people owe Wataru Endo an apology. Liverpool went for the Japanese skipper last summer after unsuccessful attempts to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Romeo Lavia from Southampton, this left supporters disappointed by the signing of a then 30-year-old Stuttgart midfielder at Anfield compared to the youngsters.
Japanese Captain, Wataru Endo, has remarkably improved for the Merseyside compared to his lackluster start after his move. Now he has become a very important and irreplaceable member of Jurgen Klopp’s modern looking Liverpool.
The £16m man firmly stood his ground and dominated in midfield against the like of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva on Sunday in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City.
In this nail biting match, Endo showcased outstanding skills and performance, proving to be a worthy competitor against Rodri, who’s arguably the world’s top holding midfielder.
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Endo vs Rodri: Stats comparison
In FotMob analysis, it was revealed that Endo contributed regularly in defensive actions for his team, with a total of nine compared to Rodri’s seven on Sunday. This highlights Endo’s crucial role in protecting the back four during their clash against Manchester City.
Endo also made two interceptions (vs Rodri’s zero), won six out of his seven duels that he attempted (vs Rodri’s four from eight duels attempted) and wasn’t even dribbled past once (vs Rodri’s one), showing great support to Jarell Quansah and Virgil van Dijk in the defence.
But, nobody can dare to say Rodri didn’t put in an impressive display, winning all three of his tackles (vs Endo’s one from four tackles), making eight recoveries (vs Endo’s six recoveries) and making a combined three blocks and clearances (vs Endo’s two blocks and clearances).
Both players were very important defensive anchors for their team respectively, allowing their more progressive teammates to sustain attacking pressure.
The Spaniard may have made more accurate passes compared to Endo (90 vs 59), but Endo’s 95% accuracy while passing was significantly higher than Rodri’s 87%.
When compared their playmaking abilities at Anfield, Rodri showed a lot of productivity, while Endo’s role normally doesn’t demands involvement in the opposition’s half due to his focus on defensive responsibilities for Liverpool.
Although the difference between both Endo and Rodri was minimal at the weekend, their impact on the game was undeniably crucial and showed just how significant they are to their teams.
Endo’s impressive performance in the Premier League, despite his relatively low price tag of £16m and limited experience, showcases his potential and contribution to Liverpool’s ongoing winning streak in each and every game he starts.
Endo was awarded Liverpool’s Player of the Match award after the full-time whistle and the former Stuttgart man is proving crucial to Klopp this season.
