Wataru Endo singles out 3 teammates while naming Liverpool's strengths

Wataru Endo made 43 appearances for Liverpool last season — not bad for a cheap and left-field signing, not least because he went off to the Asian Cup partway through the campaign. But he understands his function as a facilitator for others perfectly, and has been talking about the strengths of his midfield teammates.

It remains to be seen what kind of role Endo has under Arne Slot. But it would be premature to write off the 31-year-old, after he added some much-needed grit to Jurgen Klopp's midfield.

Just as he is in there to break things up and shield the defense, every midfielder has their specific role. Endo has gone into more detail on that, specifically highlighting Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones.

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He and Mac Allister were in many ways competing for a starting spot last season, which not many would have predicted before a ball was kicked. The arrival from Brighton spent much of the season as the deepest midfielder, offering a more assured passing presence but perhaps lacking some of Endo's defensive instincts.

Klopp duly used them rotationally a lot of the time depending on the requirements of the specific fixture, at least when both were fit and available. For much of the first half of the campaign, his decisions were dictated by fitness (and latterly, the Asian Cup).

But by the end of the season, it was not uncommon to see Endo and Mac Allister starting together. Wherever the World Cup winner is playing, it's his prowess in possession that stands out:

"I always try to let [the team] play comfortably or play easier, that’s what I always think about," said Endo, who was appearing on a podcast with Liverpool's official publication partner Kodansha. “Everyone has strong points. For example, Macca is good on the ball."

Slot will have to decide where in the midfield he sees Mac Allister long-term. Meanwhile, he'll want to find a way of fitting in Szoboszlai and Jones as well.

"Dom [Szoboszlai] has a good shot from outside the penalty box, Curtis [Jones] always has good dribbling to go to the last third," Endo continued. “I always try to help them do that, that’s what I always try. That’s important [when you’re] playing as a No.6, in my opinion.”

Szoboszlai ended the season on the bench for Liverpool. He'll now be among the first of the internationals to report to training under Slot, with Hungary not advancing at Euro 2024 as one of the best third-placed sides, and will be eager to reclaim a starting berth at Anfield.

But whatever combination Slot uses, he will have to try and get the best out of each player's skills. However he ends up deploying Endo, perhaps he should have a conversation with the Japan captain about his club teammates.

Liverpool.com says: Endo clearly thinks long and hard about his own game, and the games of others. He understands his role within the team when he's fielded as the anchor man.

Time will tell whether Slot goes into the market for another specialist number six. But if he doesn't, expect Endo to once again take minutes off some of the "bigger" names, despite all of the strengths of theirs that he has reeled off. He's not the most glamorous, but he knows his job and he does it well.