Arne Slot was visibly agitated when James Tarkowski’s late half-volley caused Liverpool to drop points mid-week.

Though the Dutchman’s side have been by far the best team in the league, jitters in the title race can happen to anyone.

At this stage of the season, teams know what they have to fight for come the end of the season and games matter more, the intangibles start to come into play, regardless of how well you’ve performed over the season.

In a game where Liverpool looked like they were coasting to victory as they lead 2-0 lead vs Wolverhampton Wanderers with 20 odd minutes left to play, suddenly the game state was flipped on it’s head and Liverpool had to dig in for the final stretch of the game to see out a result that brought them a priceless three points.

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Despite clearly being the better side throughout, Wolverhampton Wanderers pressed higher late on and caused Liverpool a few scares.

There was a moment when Andy Robertson waved him arms to the team in appeals for calm after kneeing the ball back to Allison Becker.

To further emphasise just how different the second half was for Liverpool, the Reds created 0.00 xG in the entirety of the second half.

Arne Slot spoke in his post-match press interview referencing that his side had ‘survived‘.

Wataru Endo played a huge part in getting Liverpool over the line and has underrated cameo shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Substituted on in the 71st minute, Endo sat in front of the back four with Mac Allister pushed up higher for added security in the middle of the pitch.

Endo was mainly instructed to follow Matheus Cunha wherever he went on the pitch.

In the situation above Conor Bradley was outnumbered 2 v 1 on the left hand side.

Endo saw this and went over to help the full-back, so when Cunha did receive in the half-space, Endo was just behind him.

Slot saw the way the game was going and instructed Endo to stick to Wolves’ most dangerous player.

It wasn’t just Endo winning tackles, drawing fouls and generally providing excellent late game management, positionally Endo provided Liverpool with a calm steel in choppy waters.

Speaking after the game to LFCTV, the Japan skipper confirmed this, saying:

“After I came in the thing I have to do is not concede and keep it 2-1,” Endo said.

“So, I think I did my job.

Their number 10  (Cunha) is a good player, so I had to take him man v man and defensively I have to go everywhere, recover all over the pitch.”

Wataru Endo cameo vs Wolves9

Courtesy of FotMob

Wolves pushed more men up the pitch with the wide full-backs in Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo pinning Liverpool back

As he tries to take the ball down though, Endo is quickly onto him and puts a needed foot in.

Whether it was covering the middle of the pitch, or coming over to help a full-back out, Endo’s tackling, strength and tenacity are exactly what Liverpool needed in a situation they would’ve liked to avoid but unfortunately found themselves in.

When the season gets to this stage I would argue that it’s more important to get the result rather than look at the performance (which was fine anyways).

With the amount of games Liverpool have coming up, members of the squad that aren’t starters and can offer their skills in times of need become pivotal.

It’s heartening from a Liverpool perspective to know they have a player like Endo in their arsenal at this stage of the season, to offer nous and close games out in a pressure-heavy environment.

With the final stretch of the season upon us, Slot may turn to the Japanese midfielder again when Liverpool need t win ugly.

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