23 December 2023 , 09:46
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Jurgen Klopp claims “tackling is a hobby” for Wataru Endo and says the Japan skipper just needed time to settle in at Liverpool.
Endo, 30, who cost £16.2million from Stuttgart in August, has started Liverpool’s last five games to establish himself in their midfield holding role. Klopp was always confident he would bed in at Liverpool and says he needed time like Andy Robertson and Fabinho.
“We don’t give people time anymore,” said the Liverpool boss. “Some of the biggest players in my time needed time to adapt. Andy Robertson didn’t play half a year, pretty much he was not in the squad and Fabinho, we had to change system for as he couldn’t play six individually and later he could.
“Endo is one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met and I’m glad the public can see it as well. He gives something different. He is the one for the tackles and we don’t have 20 people on the pitch for whom tackling is a hobby.”
Endo has already played 30 times for the Reds in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring twice. That followed four years in Germany where he became a mainstay at Stuttgart, making 133 appearances for the club and helping them win promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2019/20.
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And he's now playing his part in an unlikely title challenge, with Liverpool just a point off leaders Arsenal ahead of Mikel Arteta's side visiting Anfield on Saturday evening. That's despite a summer overhaul that saw Endo one of four signings through the door.
Wataru Endo and Jurgen Klopp after the midfielder signed for Liverpool (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Endo a bargain signing? Comment below.
Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and most notably Dominik Szoboszlai also came on board. But the incomings were countered by the departures of a host of players, including club captain Jordan Henderson.
Despite the mass changes, Liverpool have lost just once in their 17 Premier League matches this season. And they have also progressed into the last 16 of the Europa League and semi-finals of the League Cup.
Klopp is still expected to be active in the January transfer window though. The German manager is reportedly lining-up a new centre back following the season-ending injury to Joel Matip.