How big is the possibility of Wataru Endo, the tireless 30-year-old dueling king who has just joined Liverpool?

Will Wataru Endo shine at Liverpool?

Endo moved to Liverpool on 18 August after the start of the Premier League season, and immediately sat on the bench the following day against Bournemouth, making an emergency appearance after Alexis Mac Allister was sent off. He then made his first start against Newcastle United on 27 August, and came off the bench in the 87th minute of the match against Aston Villa.

Liverpool won both matches, but due to a series of irregularities, including Van Dijk’s sending-off in the Newcastle game, Endo’s reputation has yet to be established immediately after joining the team.

Endo was acquired by Liverpool in the summer transfer window only after Chelsea had won Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, both of the young players, 21 and 19 respectively, had been targeted by the Reds. The Japanese international midfielder was the third option for them. The Merseyside club landed Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich on deadline day as well, who is a tall and tough box-to-box player, 21, grew up at Ajax.

Under these circumstances and with his age of 30, some fans might see Endo as not the best option for Liverpool’s midfield. 

However, the following data will surely change their minds.

The first is a ranking of all Bundesliga players in terms of appearances. According to the website Transfermarkt, Endo’s time with Stuttgart ranked fourth in the 2020-21 season, first in the 21-22 season and seventh in the 22-23 season. These rankings are for all players, including goalkeepers. There might be players who happen to get a significant increase in playing time in one season due to the overlap of European competitions and national team games. But it is no coincidence if the record continues for three seasons. One of the reasons for that is Endo remains in good condition without accumulating fatigue and serious injuries. 

Also, Endo is widely known for his great winning rate of duels. According to the Bundesliga’s official website, he has been top in the category for two consecutive seasons since 20-21, and last season he was fourth. In the Bundesliga, where players have great physical ability, it impresses that the fact of undersized Endo, only 178cm in height, is so good one-on-one.

What secrets did Endo reveal in his book?

How has Endo managed to put up such great figures in three seasons in Germany? He reveals the secret in his book DUEL.

After the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he was selected for the national team but failed to make a single appearance, Endo began preparing for a move from Urawa Reds to an overseas club. It was around that time that he met Ryuji Kobayashi, who later became his trainer. Kobayashi was originally a track and field thrower who switched to bobsleigh and competed in two Olympics. When he was active, Kobayashi weighed 114 kg and ran 50 meters in six seconds.

Endo was attracted to him because of such monstrous physicality, but his initial training was learning how to use his muscles rather than building up his strength. As a result, Endo says: “First of all, I fall on the pitch much less often”; “When I was about to fall, I used to step on the ground with 100% effort to hold on, but now I don’t fall even though I am not trying to put any effort”; “Now I don’t feel like I might get injured”.

Furthermore, there has been a change in fatigue as a result of the training. Despite being at the top of the league in terms of minutes played, “I feel less tired. I sprint faster and get to the ball more often, and I can get it out there”, he writes.

Endo has been strengthening his dueling skills to compete in Europe beyond the J.League, and as a by-product of this, he has a body that doesn’t get tired. It is an unusual addition of a veteran for Liverpool, but there is no need to be negative about his age at least.