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Wataru Endo of Liverpool with Conor Bradley and Alexis Mac Allister after the Premier League match at Leicester City on April 20 2025(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

It unwittingly became an image that in many respects encapsulated the Premier League season.

And not just for the player in question.

As Liverpool looked to protect their hard-earned lead during the closing moments at Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, Wataru Endo stood expectantly in the technical area as if in preparation for being introduced.

But as the minutes ticked away, Endo remained on the sidelines with Reds boss Arne Slot instead turning to Curtis Jones from the bench to see out a victory that has moved his team to within three points of the Premier League title.

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Endo isn't the only one to have good reason to be frustrated by his lack of minutes in the top flight this season.

While having made 16 appearances in the competition, including five in the last seven games, all have been as a substitute with only one seeing him come on earlier than midway through the second half.

Harvey Elliott, who made a positive difference during a cameo at the King Power Stadium, is also waiting on his first Premier League start but at least managed a full 45 minutes at home to Southampton last month.

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Summer signing Federico Chiesa, meanwhile, didn't even make the bench at the weekend and has been restricted to just four substitute outings in top flight.

And Jarell Quansah has started a mere two Premier League matches, only one of which was in his preferred centre-back position when even then he was hauled off at half-time in Slot's first competitive game in charge at Ipswich Town on the opening league weekend.

There will, though, be a sense for most they have in some way played a part in Liverpool moving to the brink of the championship, even if their involvement has not been as extensive as they would have preferred.

Endo has gained a reputation as a 'closer' in the mould of James Milner, introduced to bolster the rearguard effort during the closing stages of games such as at Crystal Palace in October and at home to Wolves in February.

Quansah made a superb interception late on in the latter game having emerged as a half-time substitute to preserve victory as Liverpool momentarily wobbled.

And Elliott was part of the reason a goalless scoreline at Brentford was transformed into a dramatic 2-0 win in January.

But the value of such players to a squad over the course of a long, arduous season isn't just confined to matters on the field, as Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk explains.

"Wata is very important on and off the pitch," he says, when asked about Endo.

So let's see what this summer brings, but first we hopefully have a good ending to the season.”

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The transfer window will be intriguing given Endo, Elliott, Quansah and Chiesa will all have wanted greater involvement in the Premier League this term.

But the quartet - provided Chiesa is handed one more outing over the final five games - are all in line to receive a medal for their efforts should Liverpool complete the job and win the title.
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