In a summer window dominated by Liverpool’s midfield revamp, their most important performer in the middle of the park in recent weeks has been the unheralded new addition. The Reds were always going to use the off-season to bolster in such a key area, a project accelerated not only by the departure of Jordan Henderson, but that of Fabinho too. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joined from Brighton and RB Leipzig, respectively, and the duo were expected to be the first of many to come through the Anfield door. However, after announcing the signing of the latter at the beginning of July, all went quiet on the midfield front. That’s not to say there weren’t rumours of potential incomings on Merseyside. Roméo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo were targets for Jürgen Klopp’s side but the pair snubbed Merseyside for Chelsea. As such, Liverpool had to spread their net wider to bolster a key area of the pitch. In came Wataru Endo from left field. The experienced Japan international joined from VfB Stuttgart in mid-August though the expectation was that he had arrived to simply bolster the ranks. In recent weeks, particularly in the absence of Mac Allister, Endo has gone from bit-part to Liverpool’s linchpin. In a hectic run of matches, five in the space of 13 days across the Europa League, Premier League and Carabao Cup, Endo is the only player to have started all five games, becoming the first Liverpool player at this stage of the season to do so since 2005–06. “What a boy and what a player and very important,” Klopp said of Endo after the 2-0 Boxing Day win over Burnley. Combined with Arsenal’s surprise losses to West Ham and Fulham, Liverpool sit top of the table on goal difference from Aston Villa, before Monday night’s visit of Newcastle. Victory also extended Endo’s own personal Premier League record for Liverpool this season, with the Reds unbeaten in all seven matches the Japanese midfielder has started, winning five. No wonder Klopp waxed lyrical about the former VfB man. With Endo in the starting XI, Liverpool’s goals conceded per game record drops from 1.08 to 0.43 and that’s in part due to his presence as the midfield anchor. Mac Allister hasn’t exactly disappointed in the role but the 2022 World Cup winner is more effective operating further forward. Endo, meanwhile, is better suited to playing the deeper of the trio on Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3. Now there is a specialist to shield the backline and with Endo putting in an average of 2.2 tackles per 90, ranking fifth of all Liverpool players in the Premier League this season, it’s no wonder that a Reds side that had struggled a little to keep opponents out have since tightened up immeasurably. Indeed, Liverpool have conceded just three shots on target in their last three league matches, and seven in the five games Endo has played the full 90. In Liverpool’s high-octane approach under Klopp, Endo is a calming presence. Not only has he proven himself a capable ball winner but he recycles possession effectively, too. A return of 62.5 passes per 90 ranks sixth for the club, while an 85.7% pass success rate is solid enough, though does need refinement. Conversely, this can be attributed to Endo adjusting to the rigours of a new league in a team that sees more of the ball than his previous side. It’s a shame for Liverpool, then, that they may be without Endo for up to eight matches depending on Japan’s progression in the Asian Cup. The Samurai Blue are one of the favourites to go all the way in Qatar, and that means Endo may not return to Merseyside until mid-February. At the very least, the 30-year-old won’t link up with his international teammates until after Monday’s welcome of Newcastle, and they aren’t in league action after that until a trip to Bournemouth in mid-January, but Liverpool will miss the experienced midfielder in his absence. Few could have foreseen that being the case when he arrived to little fanfare a few months ago. “It’s a bit of a shame how he found his feet and now he goes to the Asian Cup but that’s how it is,” Klopp said on Tuesday night. It’s a mark of how quickly Endo has turned his fortunes around at Anfield with the midfielder maximising the opportunity presented to him in the wake of Mac Allister’s absence. The Reds are harder to break down when he starts and while many will hope Endo can play a key role in Japan’s success, a surprise early exit from the Asian Cup next month would be welcomed if it means he makes a hastier return to Anfield. Premier League team of the week