Slot should immediately ditch Liverpool ace who earns greater than Jones & Elliott

Liverpool‘s 3-3 draw towards Aston Villa within the Premier League was thrilling and a nice illustration of the attacking prowess of Jurgen Klopp‘s aspect. However it additionally demonstrated the obvious defensive deficiencies that incoming head coach Arne Slot might want to resolve heading into the brand new season.

Main trade figures resembling unerring switch specialist Fabrizio Romano have confirmed that Liverpool’s precedence will likely be to signal a brand new centre-back this summer time, having bolstered the backline solely with the addition of Ibrahima Konate since welcoming Virgil van Dijk to the fold for a document £75m determine in December 2017.

In fact, the rise of Jarell Quansah has eased final 12 months’s determined want for reinforcements, making final summer time’s sweeping modifications to the midfield an unmitigated success, however injured veteran Joel Matip is out of contract this summer time and Joe Gomez – Liverpool’s longest-serving first group participant – has been linked with a transfer away.

Whereas strengthening the defence will take priority, FSG’s CEO of Soccer, Michael Edwards, could properly determine to enhance the midfield regardless of final 12 months’s actions.

Alexis Mac Allister has been a revelation and is likely one of the most full midfielders within the recreation, described as a “celebrity” who “can play wherever” by pundit Joe Cole. Nevertheless, he’s the second-most dribbled previous participant within the Premier League this season and his abilities are greatest positioned additional ahead.

Wataru Endo is the true defensive midfielder within the Liverpool group, and whereas he has been a shrewd signing, it is clear that an improve is required to propel the Anfield aspect again to the forefront of Premier League and Champions League soccer.

Why Liverpool signed Wataru Endo

Final summer time, Liverpool have been dealt a bruising blow within the build-up to their Premier League marketing campaign, with their protracted pursuit of Romeo Lavia arising fruitless after shelving their curiosity and as a substitute shifting for Moises Caicedo.

Regardless of having an £111m bid accepted by Brighton & Hove Albion for Caicedo in August, the Ecuadorian opted for Stamford Bridge, leaving Liverpool red-faced as Lavia too joined the free-spending Blues in a £60m bundle.

The place did Liverpool go from there? Fabinho had already been offered to Al-Ittihad for a £40m price after being criticised for his “terrible” performances all through the earlier time period by pundit Jamie Carragher. The pickings have been slim in the marketplace. This known as for one thing exterior the field.

And so Liverpool shocked a number of when days after the ignominy of shedding out to Chelsea they secured the signing of Endo from German aspect Stuttgart in a £16m deal.

He isn’t been excellent, however the 31-year-old has accomplished a commendable job as Fabinho’s successor for a resurgent Anfield aspect. Nevertheless, he is nonetheless not the long-term answer.

Why Liverpool should ditch Endo from the beginning XI

Endo gained Liverpool’s Participant of the Month award for December. It was a beautiful second for followers after their shock addition grew in confidence following a gradual begin, beginning all however one of Liverpool’s six Premier League fixtures throughout that winter month.

Just lately, supporters have began to vent frustrations relating to the Japanese’s lack of mobility and athletic high quality. He’s, in essence, an industrious and devoted participant however missing in a few of the intrinsic elements wanted for achievement of the usual Liverpool demand.

He is accomplished a job this season, signed for a slice of the outlay that will have been enacted had both Caicedo and Lavia wound up on Merseyside, however there isn’t any query that Endo is just not the long-term answer, with correspondent James Pearce noting a few of his “poor” latest performances.

Endo ranks among the many prime 19% of midfielders throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for go completion and the highest 13% for passes tried per 90, as per FBref. He is crisp and composed in possession. Good.

However, the 5 foot 10 Purple ranks exterior the highest 30% for all of FBref’s compiled defensive metrics – barring aerial duel success (prime 13%), which emphasises a scarcity of power and command that halts opposition advances of their tracks.

Liverpool may make investments tens of millions into their rearguard – the truth is, they may this summer time – however with out touchdown a first-class expertise at No. 6, the likes of Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis will proceed to run roughshod over their hapless rivals additional down the division, dominating and dismantling.

Evaluating Endo’s wage and market worth with a few of his friends, it may be concluded that he is deservedly a ways behind Liverpool’s prime central midfielders, nonetheless, the likes of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, younger they might be, have to be itching for boosted phrases to higher mirror their place in Klopp’s squad – the pair at the moment falling behind the Japanese star on the wage invoice.

Whereas the German supervisor could also be leaving this summer time, such Redmen will proceed to rise, and if Edwards and Slot do agree {that a} holding midfielder have to be signed, Endo will fall into the realm of utility participant, whereas each Elliott and Jones have scope to develop into much more influential roles at Anfield.

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Slot should immediately ditch Liverpool flop who earns greater than Diaz & Elliott

Michael Edwards should make sure the Reds money in on this struggling star this summer time.

Jones has been promising this season, beginning 24 instances throughout all competitions regardless of battling harm points, however Elliott has the trimmings of an elite-level Premier League star, with Klopp pensively claiming that not unleashing the dynamic midfielder with larger regularity is likely to be his “one remorse” as he appears to shut his Liverpool profession.

The 31-year-old Endo has some spectacular attributes and to have made the transfer to Liverpool at this stage of his profession bears testomony to his underrated skill.

However Liverpool have to go that additional mile to face an opportunity of beating Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis to the title subsequent 12 months, and an improve is required.