“A nice next step”- Jurgen Klopp gives verdict on Wataru Endo’s first goal for Liverpool in Toulouse win

Jurgen Klopp is upbeat as Wataru Endo breaks his goalscoring duck for Liverpool

Liverpool surprised several rivals and their own fans when they moved for Japanese star Wataru Endo in the summer transfer window.

It was no secret that the Reds needed a midfield revamp but few expected Jordan Henderson or Fabinho to leave anytime soon. The latter’s sale called for the signing of a new number six and several names were mooted.

Liverpool appeared set to break the bank for Moises Caicedo but the player opted to move to Chelsea instead. The Reds did not dawdle on the opportunity lost and instead moved swiftly to land the Stuttgart ace. Endo is no youngster but is a battle hardened veteran who is a handful in the middle of the park.

The Japanese skipper is a no-nonsense presence in the middle of the park. His years of experience helps him read the game well and take appropriate action. The 30-year-old is yet to hit his peak but continues to improve game by game.

He arguably had his best game in red on Thursday night against Toulouse. Endo did not just aid us in winning the midfield battle but also regain the momentum at a crucial point in the game.

Diogo Jota’s early opener was cancelled out by Thigs Dallinga, swinging the momentum in the visitors’ favour. However, on the half hour mark, the Reds won a corner and Endo found the back of the net with a neat header. There was no looking back then and the Merseysiders went on to secure a convincing 5-1 win.

Speaking to TNT Sports (h/t BBC) after the match, Jurgen Klopp admitted that Endo played well on the night. His goalscoring exploits are not new given what he has already shown us at VfB Stuttgart. Hopefully this will act as a pivotal moment, fast-forwarding his development in red.

“He was really strong. He scored incredible goals for Stuttgart. He played a really good game, he broke the lines with his passing. A nice next step for him.”

Settling into the Premier League is no mean feat and Endo was always going to need time to get used to it. Thankfully there are steps being taken in the right direction. While they might be slow, it still retains its steadiness.

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Endo’s upsurge in confidence immediately after the goal was palpable and he looked far more assured on the ball. All it takes is one moment for a player to believe he belongs. Hopefully, Endo has now had his moment and continue to go from strength to strength.