Liverpool lost out on a $135 million summer transfer, but Jürgen Klopp might have given the Reds access to a player who is now on the verge of becoming even better.

On Thursday night, Liverpool’s huge win over Toulouse meant more than just three points. It was the way Jürgen Klopp’s team controlled and dominated the match, as well as the standout individual performances in what will have been an almost flawless football evening for the Reds.

The Liverpool manager now has some interesting choices to make ahead of Sunday’s match against Nottingham Forest, especially in midfield, where he appears to have an abundance of options despite Curtis Jones’ suspension and the injury to the team’s seasoned midfielder, Thiago. Klopp fielded a team with a point to prove, and they did just that.

Along with Ryan Gravenberch, another recent addition to Wataru Endō left his imprint on Thursday night with a dominant performance. In addition to scoring his first goal for Liverpool, Endō gave the Reds the kind of defensive midfield display that they haven’t had since Fabinho’s decline in play and eventual departure.

The Japanese captain dominated the field of play, stopping Toulouse’s attempts to counterattack Liverpool, and he was composed in possession, completing 96% of his passes. In total, Endō emerged victorious in ten duels, made three interceptions, and recovered four balls in a very strong performance from the midfield player.

Endō’s performance in a Liverpool shirt was incredibly convincing, and it was the closest he has ever come to displaying the kind of form that made Klopp and his recruitment team choose to pursue him in the summer. At last, Klopp let Endō take control of the middle of the pitch by unleashing his ability to win duel.

What Endō excels at doing is this. Endō describes in his book Duel how, up until he moved to Germany and learned that there was a statistic to determine how many duels a player won, he frequently felt that he wasn’t taken seriously as a defensive player. From that point on, Endō writes in his autobiography, he was motivated to become the Bundesliga’s greatest duel winner, and he succeeded.

“I’ve never heard of it before, but it sounded familiar,” he stated. “Although I was genuinely pleased to see my face in the top spot, I began to wonder if there was really a slim probability of being recognized. I thought, “There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll win this duel.” As the season came to a finish, that emotion just got greater.”

Endō was so determined to win the title that even after being suspended and unable to participate in the season’s last match, he continued to monitor his nearest competitor to ensure he hadn’t overtaken him.

Along with these commitments, he’s hired a personal trainer, continued to thrive in one-on-one settings, and improved his physique to ensure he can win defensive scenarios against opponents taller or stronger than him by making effective use of his body.

The first time Liverpool fans witnessed that was against Toulouse. EndÍ is a beast on the field because of his commitment to his trade and his relentless pursuit of every ball; as the season progresses, Liverpool should make more use of this quality.

The Reds signed Endō solely because they were unable to sign Moisés Caicedo, who they had agreed to pay a club record $135 million (£111 million/€127 million), even though they were able to acquire him for a much smaller sum. And Liverpool might have gotten better value for their money, judging by what the two have demonstrated at their respective teams thus far.