Wataru Endo’s Viral Compilation: Liverpool Midfielder Shines Against Leicester (VIDEO)
In a thrilling match that saw Liverpool come from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Leicester City during the Carabao Cup’s third round, Wataru Endo’s exceptional midfield display stole the spotlight. The game at Anfield witnessed Kasey McAteer scoring an early lead for the Championship side, but Liverpool responded with three second-half goals.
Cody Gakpo swiftly leveled the score for Liverpool, and then Dominik Szoboszlai, coming off the bench, unleashed a breathtaking long-range strike. The coup de grâce was delivered by Diogo Jota, leaving Leicester in defeat.
Among the standout Liverpool performances, Wataru Endo’s midfield mastery garnered significant attention, with his exceptional plays making rounds on social media. The 30-year-old Japanese midfielder displayed impeccable ball control, consistently delivering precise passes to the flanks. Since his £16 million move from Bundesliga’s Stuttgart six weeks ago, Endo has effectively fortified Liverpool’s defense.
Endo’s passing accuracy was an impressive 90%, completing 47 of his 52 passes. Additionally, he made 13 ball retrievals, the highest among Liverpool players, and contributed with four crucial interceptions. He also excelled in aerial duels, winning three out of four.
Wataru Endo vs Leicester pic.twitter.com/ShyFbCqByT
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After the game, Endo shared his thoughts with the Athletic, stating, “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.”
Endo’s Liverpool journey hasn’t been without challenges since he signed a four-year contract in August. In his first start against Newcastle, he was substituted off well before Darwin Nunez’s game-changing brace. Furthermore, in the past three Premier League matches, manager Jurgen Klopp has favored Alexis Mac Allister in the holding role.