Arne Slot’s successful start as Liverpool manager continued with a comfortable 2-1 win over Southampton in the League Cup, securing a spot in the semi-finals. Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott in the first half ensured that Cameron Archer’s late strike was only a consolation for the hosts.
With the hectic Christmas fixture schedule, Slot opted to rotate his squad heavily against the Saints, who recently dismissed manager Russell Martin. This rotation saw Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni controlling the midfield, while Wataru Endo, traditionally a central midfielder, was used in central defence to offer defensive cover.
Endo’s performance in the heart of defence, alongside youngster Jarell Quansah, stood out as one of the highlights of the match. With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate absent, Endo provided a composed and experienced presence, contributing to the team’s defensive stability. In fact, Endo played the full 90 minutes, marking his first complete game of the season, which is significant given his limited playing time up to that point.
Endo’s defensive stats were impressive, winning 11 out of 13 duels (8/8 on the ground and 3/5 aerial duels), and he wasn’t dribbled past or penalized once throughout the match. His passing was also highly efficient, completing 79 of 85 attempts (93%), and he made two clearances and interceptions. His ability to read the game, knowing when to press, when to fall back, and when to control the tempo, was evident and praised by fans.
Thanks to Endo’s efforts, Liverpool extended their unbeaten streak to 20 games across all competitions, a record not matched since March 1996. Despite being a relatively peripheral figure at Anfield, Endo has proven his worth and contributed to the team’s impressive run.
Endo had been limited to short appearances before the Southampton match, having played just 20 minutes in the Premier League and two minutes in the Champions League prior to this fixture. Signed in the summer of 2023 as a squad player, he played 43 times under Jurgen Klopp but was rarely a starter. With the arrival of Slot, his opportunities seemed even more limited, leading pundit Jamie Carragher to suggest that the club might consider selling him in January.
However, his performance at St Mary’s demonstrated his willingness to work hard and contribute in various roles, including playing as a makeshift centre-back and a supporting midfielder in possession.
While he is unlikely to displace regular starters like Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch, Endo’s versatility and commitment could earn him more playing time, particularly in situations where Liverpool need to see out matches and manage their squad depth effectively.
