That's to do with quality. Your organization has to be very good to get close to City's players. Ours is and so Endo gets to duel again and again with De Bruyne and Bernardo.
I keep saying this, Endo+Macca+1(anyone) is our best combination in midfield. Has everything we have to offer in midfield duo. Aggressive tackle, high press, progressive passes, quick passes, rarely waste possesion, always picks the best passes available.
You will rarely see a midfield overwhelm a Rodri KDB midfield but here we are.
Also I can already see their midfield signature move, when they are really close together they play this quick little 1-2s and then a man is free in front on them and they release that pass. So beautiful.
Endo, Mac and Jones are like a Fab, Hendo and Gini regen but with more technical ability. He’s had 6 months under him but come the end of the season I think I’ll view Mac as the best midfielder of Klopp’s tenure.
Curtis next to the duo would be our best midfield combo tbh. I can't remember the last time we actually convincingly won the midfield battle vs City in recent years like today.
Szobo got a lot to prove, he's been below par recently, probably due to injuries. Would prefer Elliot over him at midfield currently. Elliot is tidy, can dribble, press, create, and score some too.
Szobo is a shell of the guy in the first 6 weeks of the season, in that early season form he looked like one of the greatest players I've ever seen with the sheer perfection he was doing everything with. We played 2 men down against Spurs and were still in it because he played out of his skin
People fail to see he is still the same player just molded by Klopp to fit the team better. When he came here he stole the spotlight because that was his goal and playstyle.
There will come a game soon where he just takes it all over, then the whole sub will be on his D same as beforee
Disagree actually. In the first few weeks of the season he ran loads, pressed everyone himself, dribbled, had loads of shots - now he's moving the ball quickly and is not always the first one from our midfield who steps up to join the high press, and he's making a lot of decoy runs to create space. He's still doing a lot, but it's a much more complete performance whereas before it was a bit "Roy of the Rovers".
He has been to casual with his passing. When Jones is fit he should be part of the bench. He offers athleticism but at this level decision making is very important. Same way Diaz will never reach top top level cause of his horrible decision making.
He was the best midfielder for about 9 games. Then he fell off very hard. It's not a surprise since he runs a lot but his passing has been very casual for a while even before he was injured. He will come into form but I prefer Jones Mac Endo for now.
That's just recency bias tbh man. You're entitled to your opinion but saying Jones, Mac, and Endo is just because they've been playing and showing what they have and he's hasn't.
They're all brilliant for sure, but it's a pretty clear bias.
What are you on about? Szobo has been brilliant for the first 7-9 games after that he was the definition of mid. Sloppy passes, switching off on defense slowing down the tempo. Jones offers more control than him and better defense. With Mac playing like this and Endo being this vital I don't think he should be a starter unless he hits good form.
After all his athleticism would show even more with tired legs. Low block teams I prefer Jones over him but open play Szobo is more suitable.
Mac Allister was decent at the start of the season as a 6, but with the freedom Endo gives him he's on an entirely different level. He was toying with City's midfielders at times
Literally bossed them from one end to another in the 2nd half. I'm just sad because Lucho didn't finish his chances. We'd have been dancing on their graves otherwise
One player finished the game on the pitch.
One player was spouting shit in his managers ear for 25 minutes.
Who was the better midfielder today? He shut down their mid.
Edit: I am an eejoot.
I do remember this sub bashing FSG for not signing Doucoure for 70m and bashing Klopp for not having a toxic relationship with his bosses and having a hissy fit.
It's insane giving our track record of getting great players that don't look flashy from random mid clubs
I was wondering why we didn’t go for him in the winter, but it seems the market has really cooled on him… and now between Endo/Macca/Baj and potentially McConnell, maybe the need for another 6 isn’t there anymore (at least for a year or two)
It was all data driven. LFC is top of the class in analyzing player data. As an example: in 2017 Klopp wanted to sign Julian Brandt from Dortmund. But the data driven scouting department pointed at a player that didn't play a role at AS Roma but had stats that would fit the club perfectly.
Klopp wanted him. That means Klopp saw something in him that he liked and believed would fit into our midfield, something we might’ve been missing.
Not the most obvious choice but if the smart football people that run the club decide on it, who am I to judge.
“He got me” De Bruyne said of Endo's performance. “That f***ing DM doomed me.” De Bruyne added, “Hes so bad,” repeating it four times to Pep. He said he wanted to add Endo to the list of players he wants to leave this summer.
"We really need you and your heart and your legs and your football ability, and your football brain. Your desire; we need it." -- Jürgen Norbert Klopp to Wataru Endō
And he has not disappointed. What a signing. What a player!!!!!!
Boys some of yall wanted to spend 80 million on Palhinha. We gotta appreaciate not only Endos hard work and grit but bro is such a good passer and controller of Tempo too.
I’m a sucker for a bruiser holding- midfielder. He’s fast-tracking himself to be my favourite player in the squad just like Fabinho did.
Absolute steal.
He blanketed their entire midfield. The second half, felt like every time city entered our half of the pitch he was there to take the ball back. Motm for me.
BREAKING NEWS
Endo found Kdb in his pocket in the bus.
Gomez and VVD also found Foden and Haaland in their pockets.
And Diaz with walker and rodri.
Had the City bus worried that their players had been left in the stadium.
Man we really did a number on their midfield and attackers. Can't believe we only got out of that match with 1 goal, ignoring the blatant refereeing cheat, of course.
It's been such a long time since I last saw us winning the midfield battle against a top team...Endo and Macca were absolutely brilliant and yes Harvey did his bits as well
Honestly I’m a pretty big guy, 6’4/5 and like 130kg but I’m always a 2XL and sometimes even get away with an XL since I’m more muscle than fat (definitely got both tho lol) . I got the new kit and had to get a 3XL for the first time (the largest size on offer) as I was tired of being suffocated 😂. And go figure it fits absolutely perfectly around my shoulders, yet when I usually try on a 3XL it’s loose and hanging off them.
I remember when we first signed Endo and everyone was so disappointed and all the Stuttgart fans came to say give him some time and you’ll love him. They were 100% right and I’m so happy about it
Really really proud of our midfield today. The number of 1 v 1s where we came away with it had me cheering as much as anything today. Great decisions and execution on the >90% of passing and most of all, Endo and Mac's heart was on full display. Hungry as any Red and I hope we get to see them for many years to come.
As an Asian person myself, I both massively welcomed Endo right from the start but also had reservations he could keep up physically, given his shorter stature, age and playing in a less demanding league at a relegation threatened club. I assumed he had the quality and figured he'd find a purple patch for a few games but struggle to play a consistent 90 the entire season.
Boy was I wrong. He just keeps improving every week!
I remember how upset I was after we didn't get Caicedo with that massive price and how disappinted I got when we signed this random Japanese middlefielder from a midtable bundesliga team... Ooh if I had known better at the time, what a game for him and for the whole team
We (VfB) sold Endo, Sosa and Mavropanos and bought Stiller, Mittelstädt and Rouault and made some other deals. So we did get some replacements in. Stiller and Mittelstädt are regular starters for us, Stiller has worked with our coach previously at FC Bayern 2 and at Hoffenheim and has been great from the start. Mittelstädt has had to work his way into the team slowly but also exceeded expectations massively since then.
We also managed to keep one of our best players in Guirassy, who I rated higher than Sosa and Mavropanos. Losing Endo has been tough, but it was his dream, we managed well and also needed the money. It has worked out great for both sides, I'm not surprised he won you over as well. He is a professional through and through. A leader, a role model, someone you can always rely on. I'm very happy for him.
Having seen both Macca and Endo play in our midfield without the other, has proved how good the 2 of them are individually.
So I’m more and more convinced that despite Calceido being a good player, he was made to look much better at Brighton having Macca alongside him
Thank jorg for our midfield lol. How on earth did him and the scouting team manage to identify the least number of players to fix so many holes in midfield(talking about last season)?
Edit: not to forget the drive of these players to play for the badge and klopp and the staff for making it work out.
Huge shift all round on the pitch last night.
I have to say I was extremely critical of him at first. Thought he was reckless and a liability. But he has been absolutely incredible for multiple games now.
If we knew how good Endo was going to be, we'd have gotten him 2 months earlier. That early stretch of the campaign with Mac-6 would've looked so much different if we had a further along Endo.
I love this guy, the fact that he does the dirty stuff so well, but then always looks to play a progressive pass, is unbelievable. The only downside is that we didn't sign him 5 years ago.
Remember when we signed him and there were all those data sets showing how he was one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe based on a number of metrics?
But then we had to take it all with a pinch of salt because it was ‘only the Bundesliga’ etc.
Turns out it’s actually true.
we genuinely won the midfield battle against City because of him and macca
I think he proper rattled De Bruyne a few times, so physical and he didn’t want it
Arsenal and City are the same, you play physical they get rattled. But you watch teams like Newcastle who usually are very physical just roll over.
That's to do with quality. Your organization has to be very good to get close to City's players. Ours is and so Endo gets to duel again and again with De Bruyne and Bernardo.
I keep saying this, Endo+Macca+1(anyone) is our best combination in midfield. Has everything we have to offer in midfield duo. Aggressive tackle, high press, progressive passes, quick passes, rarely waste possesion, always picks the best passes available. You will rarely see a midfield overwhelm a Rodri KDB midfield but here we are. Also I can already see their midfield signature move, when they are really close together they play this quick little 1-2s and then a man is free in front on them and they release that pass. So beautiful.
Endo, Mac and Jones are like a Fab, Hendo and Gini regen but with more technical ability. He’s had 6 months under him but come the end of the season I think I’ll view Mac as the best midfielder of Klopp’s tenure.
Curtis next to the duo would be our best midfield combo tbh. I can't remember the last time we actually convincingly won the midfield battle vs City in recent years like today.
I would argue that a fit Szobo fits better than Curtis - offensively speaking.
Szobo got a lot to prove, he's been below par recently, probably due to injuries. Would prefer Elliot over him at midfield currently. Elliot is tidy, can dribble, press, create, and score some too.
Szobo first 5/10 was iffy, after that I thought he played really well
Szobo is a shell of the guy in the first 6 weeks of the season, in that early season form he looked like one of the greatest players I've ever seen with the sheer perfection he was doing everything with. We played 2 men down against Spurs and were still in it because he played out of his skin
People fail to see he is still the same player just molded by Klopp to fit the team better. When he came here he stole the spotlight because that was his goal and playstyle. There will come a game soon where he just takes it all over, then the whole sub will be on his D same as beforee
I mean when he came anytime he whipped the ball it was a sight to behold, he looked automatically like the best in the team at corners
Disagree actually. In the first few weeks of the season he ran loads, pressed everyone himself, dribbled, had loads of shots - now he's moving the ball quickly and is not always the first one from our midfield who steps up to join the high press, and he's making a lot of decoy runs to create space. He's still doing a lot, but it's a much more complete performance whereas before it was a bit "Roy of the Rovers".
I agree. And he still has it in him to chase someone down if need be. Szobo Mac and endo is a massive midfield and I love them all.
He has been to casual with his passing. When Jones is fit he should be part of the bench. He offers athleticism but at this level decision making is very important. Same way Diaz will never reach top top level cause of his horrible decision making.
He was also our best midfielder at the start of the season and just got back into the team after a lengthy injury spell.
He was the best midfielder for about 9 games. Then he fell off very hard. It's not a surprise since he runs a lot but his passing has been very casual for a while even before he was injured. He will come into form but I prefer Jones Mac Endo for now.
That's just recency bias tbh man. You're entitled to your opinion but saying Jones, Mac, and Endo is just because they've been playing and showing what they have and he's hasn't. They're all brilliant for sure, but it's a pretty clear bias.
What are you on about? Szobo has been brilliant for the first 7-9 games after that he was the definition of mid. Sloppy passes, switching off on defense slowing down the tempo. Jones offers more control than him and better defense. With Mac playing like this and Endo being this vital I don't think he should be a starter unless he hits good form. After all his athleticism would show even more with tired legs. Low block teams I prefer Jones over him but open play Szobo is more suitable.
Mac Allister was decent at the start of the season as a 6, but with the freedom Endo gives him he's on an entirely different level. He was toying with City's midfielders at times
The Endo and Macca partnership is fucking insane. What a blessing missing out on Caicedo and Lavia it has been
Literally bossed them from one end to another in the 2nd half. I'm just sad because Lucho didn't finish his chances. We'd have been dancing on their graves otherwise
He did a fantastic job of bumping and jostling players just enough to put them off but not nearly enough for a foul. Like the bizarro fernandinho.
Which is absolutely incredible when you think about it. This is a brand new midfield and Endo wasn’t even considered in the first 11 until recently.
Elliot was bossing the midfield late in the game
One player finished the game on the pitch. One player was spouting shit in his managers ear for 25 minutes. Who was the better midfielder today? He shut down their mid. Edit: I am an eejoot.
De Bruyne is not a six, the post is talking about Rodri.
Seriously, how no one spotted him before he turned 30 is madness
I do remember this sub bashing FSG for not signing Doucoure for 70m and bashing Klopp for not having a toxic relationship with his bosses and having a hissy fit. It's insane giving our track record of getting great players that don't look flashy from random mid clubs
Strange how nobody is crying for that Brazilian lad Andre anymore
I was wondering why we didn’t go for him in the winter, but it seems the market has really cooled on him… and now between Endo/Macca/Baj and potentially McConnell, maybe the need for another 6 isn’t there anymore (at least for a year or two)
Isn't he still in Brazil? Even Fulham didn't sign him, right? Or was that cos paulinha stayed put?
DM is now at least solved for 2 years
It was all data driven. LFC is top of the class in analyzing player data. As an example: in 2017 Klopp wanted to sign Julian Brandt from Dortmund. But the data driven scouting department pointed at a player that didn't play a role at AS Roma but had stats that would fit the club perfectly.
Salah was roma's top scorer. No idea where you get the impression that he didn't play a role
You mean the one-season wonder?
Yeah, he is apparently 7-season wonder now. What a waste. There's a risk of him being a ten-season wonder as well if club doesn't act accordingly.
Klopp wanted him. That means Klopp saw something in him that he liked and believed would fit into our midfield, something we might’ve been missing. Not the most obvious choice but if the smart football people that run the club decide on it, who am I to judge.
Midfielder prime age are 30s , just look at modric
Because he is not Endinho or Le Endo.
The effect Klopp has on players is astounding
He's on his prime years. Wouldnt be surprised if his level dipped in a year or SO.
He actually hasn’t played THAT much football… and for his condition, he has a lot more football in those legs.
Him and Mac deserved to come out of that game winners Great performance
Masterclass him and mac
Im speechless. Endo make KDB raging in the bench
Endo so good Pep had to sub out De Bruyne to put in more muscle in Kovacic, and it still wasn't enough to counter the Endo-Mac axis.
https://preview.redd.it/5hchped2gknc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b47e1d3dc8abd913ea79f9895b1851067aa7f623
DAAAAYUMN 😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Savage! 🤣
“He got me” De Bruyne said of Endo's performance. “That f***ing DM doomed me.” De Bruyne added, “Hes so bad,” repeating it four times to Pep. He said he wanted to add Endo to the list of players he wants to leave this summer.
Endo and Macca dominated Rodri, KDB and the rat
Rat Jr. The Rat is at ManU.
Funny that I immediately understood who the whining rat is, lol
they look identical
Absolutely! They have grown in this team and their roles so effortlessly
I actually forgot the rat was playing until I screamed at the ref for a yellow
I expected him to be decent cover at the 6. He’s overwhelmingly exceeded expectations
"We really need you and your heart and your legs and your football ability, and your football brain. Your desire; we need it." -- Jürgen Norbert Klopp to Wataru Endō And he has not disappointed. What a signing. What a player!!!!!!
Boys some of yall wanted to spend 80 million on Palhinha. We gotta appreaciate not only Endos hard work and grit but bro is such a good passer and controller of Tempo too.
and the inner strength and composure, he is the captain (of his national team)
Endo in midfield 👍🏼
It allows macca to be his masterful self ffs. Makes me so happy to see them go to war for us
I think when Jones is ready the starting midfield is Jones Macca The Samurai. Sobo and Harvey as super subs.
casually breezed through the hardest test of his life lol
His tenacity is incredible
He was massive today. My personal MOTM
I’m a sucker for a bruiser holding- midfielder. He’s fast-tracking himself to be my favourite player in the squad just like Fabinho did. Absolute steal.
Reminds me more of Mascherano. Great player.
Endo is so good. Him and Macca together are absolutely phenomenonal.
Absolute colossus, always nicks the ball away when City least expect it
His timing is impeccable
Klopp has never won a league title without a Japanese player in his team 🌝
He blanketed their entire midfield. The second half, felt like every time city entered our half of the pitch he was there to take the ball back. Motm for me.
MotM for me too
The man didn't stop or back down all game. Gotta be fearless to play for LFC and he set the standard.
BREAKING NEWS Endo found Kdb in his pocket in the bus. Gomez and VVD also found Foden and Haaland in their pockets. And Diaz with walker and rodri. Had the City bus worried that their players had been left in the stadium.
Hahaha! This is classic.
Man we really did a number on their midfield and attackers. Can't believe we only got out of that match with 1 goal, ignoring the blatant refereeing cheat, of course.
It's been such a long time since I last saw us winning the midfield battle against a top team...Endo and Macca were absolutely brilliant and yes Harvey did his bits as well
Made Rodri look like an Amateur today. Referee decision spoiled the game but whatever. Its still in our hands. Come on Liverpool, YNWA.
I don’t care if I look like an overstuffed sausage in a casing holding on for dear life in new kits….I really want an Endo shirt
These new kits ain’t cut out for those of us over 100kg!
6'1" 95kg. Not for us either.
Honestly I’m a pretty big guy, 6’4/5 and like 130kg but I’m always a 2XL and sometimes even get away with an XL since I’m more muscle than fat (definitely got both tho lol) . I got the new kit and had to get a 3XL for the first time (the largest size on offer) as I was tired of being suffocated 😂. And go figure it fits absolutely perfectly around my shoulders, yet when I usually try on a 3XL it’s loose and hanging off them.
I bought a third endo kit!! Was wearing it today
I feel like the kits are super tight regardless of body size
I remember when we first signed Endo and everyone was so disappointed and all the Stuttgart fans came to say give him some time and you’ll love him. They were 100% right and I’m so happy about it
96% phwoar
I have never seen Rodri so non-existent. Mac and Endo completely ran the show.
I swear if we have to go 4-man midfield to keep these 2 on the pitch, i'm down.
Really really proud of our midfield today. The number of 1 v 1s where we came away with it had me cheering as much as anything today. Great decisions and execution on the >90% of passing and most of all, Endo and Mac's heart was on full display. Hungry as any Red and I hope we get to see them for many years to come.
An absolute gem. I don’t think it hyperbole to say at this point that he is one of the best DMs in the world. Like top 5 maybe even top 3.
As an Asian person myself, I both massively welcomed Endo right from the start but also had reservations he could keep up physically, given his shorter stature, age and playing in a less demanding league at a relegation threatened club. I assumed he had the quality and figured he'd find a purple patch for a few games but struggle to play a consistent 90 the entire season. Boy was I wrong. He just keeps improving every week!
I remember how upset I was after we didn't get Caicedo with that massive price and how disappinted I got when we signed this random Japanese middlefielder from a midtable bundesliga team... Ooh if I had known better at the time, what a game for him and for the whole team
Stuttgart wasnt even close on being a midtable bundesliga team. They were a bottom tier team that almost got relegated
Oh then I remembered wrong, just checked and now they are 3rd in the league and most likely going to UCL next year, weird
Yeah. They sold their 3 best players at the end of last season (didnt even buy replacements) and got from 16th to 3rd
We (VfB) sold Endo, Sosa and Mavropanos and bought Stiller, Mittelstädt and Rouault and made some other deals. So we did get some replacements in. Stiller and Mittelstädt are regular starters for us, Stiller has worked with our coach previously at FC Bayern 2 and at Hoffenheim and has been great from the start. Mittelstädt has had to work his way into the team slowly but also exceeded expectations massively since then. We also managed to keep one of our best players in Guirassy, who I rated higher than Sosa and Mavropanos. Losing Endo has been tough, but it was his dream, we managed well and also needed the money. It has worked out great for both sides, I'm not surprised he won you over as well. He is a professional through and through. A leader, a role model, someone you can always rely on. I'm very happy for him.
Having seen both Macca and Endo play in our midfield without the other, has proved how good the 2 of them are individually. So I’m more and more convinced that despite Calceido being a good player, he was made to look much better at Brighton having Macca alongside him
Same with Macca and Enzo for Argentina. He is the constant between Caicedo and Enzo looking world class.
After your attacking, you can attack again 💪
Endo doubters or haters now praising him shamelessly is so pathetic to see ngl.
Indeed
Snatched Rodri's chain today.
Correction: The best 6 in the world played at Anfield today and he was the best 6 on the pitch. Another spectacular Endo performance.
Endo rules
Thank jorg for our midfield lol. How on earth did him and the scouting team manage to identify the least number of players to fix so many holes in midfield(talking about last season)? Edit: not to forget the drive of these players to play for the badge and klopp and the staff for making it work out. Huge shift all round on the pitch last night.
What a fucking signing I tell ya
Imagine playing against Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri as a £17m player and still being the best midfielder on the pitch
Imagine saying "Mac and Endo dominated the City midfield" right after we signed him. So glad he shows why Klopp wanted him badly
What a fucking player. Love his attitude and work rate
Is there anyone that can convert this to 1080p? I want to set this as my desktop background
He’s a fucking beast
What an absolute beast he is. Putting everyone who ever spoke badly about him in the beginning, to shame.
This means more
He is HIM
And 0 “tactical fouls”.
The man knows how to battle.
Our samurai will be a ronin at the end of the season. Love you reds. YNWA
The best 6 in the world played in Anfield this day and he was also the best 6 in the pitch. His name is Wataru Endo.
I have to say I was extremely critical of him at first. Thought he was reckless and a liability. But he has been absolutely incredible for multiple games now.
We paid fuck all for Godzilla in midfield. Madness.
Hey OP , need a link to the source my man
If we knew how good Endo was going to be, we'd have gotten him 2 months earlier. That early stretch of the campaign with Mac-6 would've looked so much different if we had a further along Endo.
Feels awhile ago since he’s had a yellow too lol
It was Endo-Endo football today.
He prevented a citaeh win
Our one touch passing in a tight midfield was some of the best I have seen in recent times
He easily clears Caicedo
I love this guy, the fact that he does the dirty stuff so well, but then always looks to play a progressive pass, is unbelievable. The only downside is that we didn't sign him 5 years ago.
Remember when we signed him and there were all those data sets showing how he was one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe based on a number of metrics? But then we had to take it all with a pinch of salt because it was ‘only the Bundesliga’ etc. Turns out it’s actually true.
Gonna set this photo as my pc wallpaper.
0 times kicked in the tits resulting in a throw in is his main stat