Wataru Endo benched in pre-season game as Liverpool’s Arne Slot’s strategy clear

Liverpool’s defensive midfield position has been a hot topic of discussion among fans over the past 18 months, but surprisingly there has been little backlash to an early decision made by new manager Arne Slot. That decision highlighted the challenge facing a player who unexpectedly became a fan favorite last season.

Despite the absence of Alexis Mac Allister – still celebrating Argentina’s Copa America victory – and a lack of other senior options for the defensive midfield role, Slot chose not to start Wataru Endo in Friday’s friendly against Championship side Preston North End , which was played behind closed doors.

Yes, it was just a warm-up game. However, the starting XI could be considered the first choice of players available to the Liverpool head coach.

The match also provided the first chance to see what Liverpool could look like under Slot, as the Dutchman continues to settle into his role after taking over from Jurgen Klopp. So the fact that Endo didn’t line up for kickoff was interesting. Curtis Jones has instead assumed the role of defensive shield, as he did on occasion last pre-season, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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The Japan international didn’t have to wait long to get involved – he replaced Dominik Szoboszlai after 33 minutes and ended up playing just under 45 minutes, like most of the other players. But if we take this at face value, it could be an early sign of Slot’s expectations of deeper midfield players. Indeed, the task may not necessarily fall to one individual, as Slot has demonstrated a more fluid midfield setup at Feyenoord compared to Klopp. A double pivot also presents various personnel options for both midfield and attack.

Last season, Liverpool relied heavily on turning Trent Alexander-Arnold into an inverted right-back, reducing the need for two deeper midfielders. However, circumstances meant the Reds could not fully commit to a regular number six. In the Premier League, Endo started 20 games in the position, Mac Allister managed 17, with Joe Gomez coming on for the win at Nottingham Forest in March.

While Mac Allister’s overall game has undoubtedly improved when pushed further with Endo behind him – and the Reds have looked more solid defensively – the Argentine has grown into the number six role and is superior technical to the Japanese player. This could be the direction Slot wants to take, especially when there are two players in the center position.

Endo has certainly shown his mettle in the Premier League, bouncing back from a shaky start at Liverpool. His take on potential new midfield signings? He is for it. “I think it would be better to get the number six midfielder,” Endo said. “If it ultimately makes the team stronger then I’m all for it because it’s going to be competition and I’ve just got to earn my position again.”

Liverpool’s tactical versatility was on full display in their match against Preston, especially in the second half which featured a mix of youngsters and squad players. They started post-interval with a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Endo was paired with Tyler Morton in central midfield. Later, after replacing Endo, they reverted to a classic 4-3-3, allowing Kaide Gordon to move from an unfamiliar left-back role to his natural position on the right wing.

The youngsters made quite an impression in the Preston game, with Trey Nyoni and 17-year-old Amara Nallo standing out in midfield and defense respectively. Stefan Bajectic also turned heads, playing further away from his usual ‘number six’ spot, suggesting his potential to break into a regular starting spot.

However, that is a story for another day. The immediate focus for Liverpool fans and indeed the recruitment team is how Slot plans to strengthen the midfield in the coming weeks – with a particular focus on Endo.