Wataru Endo can help provide answer to Liverpool problem that has annoyed Arne Slot

The return of Wataru Endo has given Liverpool boss Arne Slot more options when it comes to managing games

Amid the hullabaloo regarding whatever it was Dominik Szoboszlai was attempting to achieve just before half-time, it was easy to overlook. But there was a welcome sight for Liverpool and Arne Slot on the bench on Monday evening.

Strange as it may seem for a player who has featured for fewer than 250 minutes this season and has only ever started one Premier League game under the current head coach, the Reds have missed the comfort blanket of Wataru Endo at key stages this season.

Slot admitted as much when, speaking over the Christmas period, he contemplated Liverpool’s inconsistent game management that has, as was shown against Barnsley in the eventual 4-1 FA Cup third-round triumph this week, resulted in making difficult what should have been straightforward victories.

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“One way of game management is the ability to make substitutions, maybe to bring an extra defender or last year when we were one goal up, a lot of times I brought Wataru Endo in,” said Slot.

“I have already said, I don’t know if anyone notices it but we miss quite a lot of players.”

Indeed, Endo missed seven games during the busy December and early January period with an ankle injury before returning to the substitutes’ bench for the Barnsley game.

Having been a regular during his debut campaign under Jurgen Klopp, the Japan international, who turns 33 next month, gained a reputation the following term as Liverpool’s “closer” of games when regularly being introduced to help protect leads during the final stages of matches under Slot, particularly in the first half of the season.

True, the last two times Endo was brought on to see out a game this campaign, Liverpool lost in stoppage time at Chelsea and were then pegged back in the additional period to a 3-3 draw at Leeds United in early December.

But it isn’t always going to work. And, it must be said, on both occasions the midfielder had, come full-time, picked up an injury sufficient to subsequently prompt a spell on the sidelines.

Endo, then, can become a valuable asset during the remaining months given Liverpool will require the ability to control and manage matches if they are to transform their ongoing 11-game unbeaten run into more tangible reward.

And given the shortage of options at centre-back, Endo also offers an alternative in the position should legs occasionally need to be rested or injuries continue to strike the rearguard.

Given his age and the fact he is approaching the final 12 months of his contract, there is every chance this could be the last season as a Liverpool player for Endo, unless there is enthusiasm from both player and club for him to occupy the position of seasoned squad professional that has been vacant since the departure of James Milner.

For now, though, the Japanese is going to be needed. He may not see much action, but the more minutes Endo has on the pitch, the better position Liverpool will have found themselves in this season.

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