As Liverpool celebrates winning the Premier League for the second time in history, the astute supporters at Anfield have realized that Wataru Endo stands out from all the other players in the top division due to one particular statistic this season.
Arne Slot defeated Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 in front of a boisterous Anfield on Sunday, becoming the fifth manager in Premier League history to win the championship in their first season in England’s top division.
Endo, a seasoned Japan international who has played 29 times in 2024–2025, is something of a forgotten character under Slot. However, because of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister’s respective roles, he has made a lot of appearances from the bench.
Crazy Endo Stat Shows How Valuable a Midfielder Is for Slot
The future of the midfield player at Anfield is in jeopardy.
The captain of the Japan national team has always been dependable when it comes to his work ethic, which is demonstrated by a recent figure that has surfaced: his relatively impressive number of fouls per game, which has surpassed all other Premier League players.
When reducing his transfer to its most basic elements, Endo has delivered just that throughout his brief tenure at Anfield. Endo joined the Merseysiders, who were then coached by Jurgen Klopp, with a gritty reputation as a player who relished getting his hands dirty.
The 32-year-old, who arrived from VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2023, has committed more fouls per game than any other player in England’s top division this season (Will Hughes of Crystal Palace is right behind).
Endo, who has gained popularity for donning a rugby-style gum shield before games, has committed eight fouls per game this season. More noteworthy is the fact that he has avoided yellow cards for the entire 2024–2025 Premier League season.
In other news, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jota Silva (third) has collected five yellow cards while accumulating 2.6 fouls per game, and Hughes, who was previously mentioned, has received 11 yellow cards since the season began in August.
Perhaps in joke, a Liverpool fan took to X (previously Twitter) to suggest that, despite the uncertainty surrounding Endo’s future at Anfield, the little-known statistic of his season under Slot merits a ten-year contract extension.
“This statistic is the best in Premier League history.” Let him pick up the trophy. Offer him a ten-year contract. What a man.
It’s unclear what the future holds for Endo, who was born in Yokohama. Reliable enough to be counted on in difficult times, the question is if Slot, who is considered to be among the top football managers in the world, will be aiming to improve this profile.
Unbelievably, the Dutchman may benefit the team from his statistical oddity. It might be used as leverage when teams try to sign him since who doesn’t want a guy who is ready for combat and willing to risk everything?
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