A Wataru Endo compilation has gone viral after the Liverpool midfielder’s performance in a 3-1 win over Leicester City on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester 3-1 in the third round of the Carabao Cup courtesy of a trio of second-half goals.
Kasey McAteer had put the Championship outfit ahead after just three minutes at Anfield but Cody Gakpo levelled for Liverpool early in the second half before Dominik Szoboszlai came off the bench to net a wonder strike from distance. Diogo Jota's flick then put Leicester to the sword.
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Amid several promising performances for Liverpool, Japanese midfielder Endo impressed in midfield, with a compilation of the player’s display having since done the round on social media.
The 30-year-old kept the ball ticking in central midfield and was accurate with a series of raking passes to the flanks. Moreover, Endo, who arrived from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart for £16million six weeks ago, provided an effective foil for the Refs defence.
Endo completed 47 of his 52 passes (90 per cent) while he retrieved possession on 13 occasions, more than any other Liverpool player. The player also made four interceptions and came out on top in three of his four aerial duels.
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After the game Endo said, via the Athletic: “I enjoyed it so much. I thought I was better than in the other games. I am happy that I was able to show who I am.
“Defensively, I’m trying to adapt. As I played in the second half tonight, I wanted to play like that at Newcastle and in the Europa game, but I understand I needed some time. It felt so good to play the full 90 minutes and I felt like I was able to make a difference.
“If I keep playing like I did in the second half, then I hope I’ll play more in the Premier League. I feel ready. I have to perform like that in every game.”
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It has not been plain sailing for Endo since putting pen to paper on a four-year contract in August.
In his first start for the club, away to Newcastle, he was subbed off long before Darwin Nunez netted a brace to turn the contest on its head at the last.
Moreover, in the past three Premier League games, Klopp has favoured Alexis Mac Allister in the holding role.
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Featured Image Credit: 1947 production via XTopics: Football, Wataru Endo, Liverpool, Leicester City, Carabao Cup, Premier League