Danny Murphy says Jurgen Klopp now has both aggression and a player he didn’t really want at Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had no plans to bring in Wataru Endo during the summer. Endo was a surprise arrival at Anfield ahead of the new season. Having enjoyed his time at Stuttgart in recent seasons, nobody predicted the Japanese would be on his way to Liverpool. Regardless, Endo has done a decent job for the Reds so far. And speaking on TalkSPORT yesterday, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said the 30-year-old would fit what Jurgen Klopp wants from his midfielder. – Liverpool quickly understood. They saw the last season and said: “Come on, come on,” the pundit began. “Who did they bring in? They brought in Szoboszla, I mean you can’t get a better athlete. “He is also technically gifted, but what does Klopp like about his midfielder? Press, press, press. Can you go 18 yard box to 18 yard box? Like the trio he had with Henderson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Milner, actually the four that just did the job because the other three won their games. “Gravenberch – great athlete. Six feet plus, fast, quick, strong. Then, okay, he wasn’t his first choice because they went after Caicedo, I know, but Endo is coming. Steady, aggressive, defensive player, Stuttgart captain. They recognize the players they need, that they want to play.” Endo plays for Liverpool Murphy’s point is worth exploring here. Links to many different players appear in the January transfer window. But subconsciously or not, fans tend to sign one player over another. Liverpool, for example, are currently on a bit of a spree to bring in Joao Palhinha from Fulham. According to some supporters, no other player can do it, Palhinha is who they need if they want to win the Premier League. In the summer, many fans saw that the player was Moises Caicedo. For many people it was a bust of Caicedo or a defensive midfielder. But as Endo – and Alexis Mac Allister – have shown, there are many different ways to skin this cat. Both Endo and to a lesser extent Mac Allister fit the mold Klopp wanted from his No.6. Targeting the player profile rather than the player can lead to a more consistent transfer strategy. Murphy contrasts Manchester United’s player buying policy with Liverpool’s. And that’s it. United tend to target names rather than those who can adapt to their style of football – whatever that may be. Until they get those things on the same page, they won’t be successful. Although people slightly mocked the signing of Endo, his arrival showed that Liverpool are healthy. They can bring in a player who wasn’t necessarily the first, second or even third choice and still have him get the job done. Now this is how to build a team.