Jurgen Klopp branded Wataru Endo a “real monster” on the pitch and backed the Japanese midfielder to make as much of a splash at Liverpool as James Milner did.
The 30-year-old's arrival from Stuttgart for around £16.2 million may come as underwhelming after Liverpool missed out on big-money signings Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea this week.
Liverpool have seen a number of midfielders depart the club this summer including Milner, who joined on a free transfer aged 29 but went on to become a regular and is viewed by Klopp as a major reason for their success, including Premier League and Champions League glory, in the last few years.
Endo has put pen to paper on a four-year contract and although he is touch-and-go to make his debut against Bournemouth on Saturday, Klopp is delighted with his latest acquisition.
Klopp said: “He is a late bloomer in his career and he was definitely underestimated for a long time. It is clear he has improved every year since he was on the proper football screen.
“There's no chance that anybody could [think he is 30], when you see him, you think 'is he allowed to drive a car?'. On the pitch, he turns into a real monster.
“One of the biggest LFC legends of my time was James Milner, he arrived here when he was 29. I can tell you without James Milner, we wouldn't have enjoyed success in recent years.
“Wataru can have a similar impact. The last week was obviously a tricky one. But when you have a problem you can stick to the problem or find a solution, I'm more than happy to have the solution.”
Liverpool had bids, significantly more than what they paid for Endo, accepted for Ecuador's Caicedo and Belgium's Lavia but the pair each opted to move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1: Player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Robert Sanchez 7: One of three new players making their chelsea debuts, the former Brighton keeper was beaten all ends up by Salah's curling effort that hit bar and was helpless as Liverpool ripped apart the home defence ahead of Luiz goal. Quiet second half as Liverpool barely threatened. Reuters -
Axel Disasi 7: Part of a surprise Chelsea back three and then made an unexpected impact at other end of pitch when he scuffed home debut goal to level scores. Debut to remember for the defender signed from Monaco for nearly £40m. Getty -
Thiago Silva 9: Superb game from the veteran. Makes up for lack of pace with perfect positioning and the timing of his tackling is immaculate. His experience will be vital in what is a young Chelsea squad. AFP -
Levi Colwill 7: Defender, making his Chelsea debut, had impressive season on loan at Brighton last time out and has forced his way into Pochettino’s plans. Comfortable playing ball out from back and will benefit playing alongside Silva. Reuters -
Reece James 8: Chelsea’s new captain crossing was a constant threat and his link-up pay with Sterling down the right first class. Came off with 15 minutes to go with what appeared to be an injury which will be a worry for the Blues. Getty -
Enzo Fernandez 7: Good show from Argentine who was given freedom to roam forward in what was probably his best performance in a Chelsea shirt. Still along way to go to justify his £100m-plus price tag, though. Booked in first half after going head-to-head with Jota that also saw Liverpool attacker booked. -
Conor Gallagher 7: Given nod in midfield by Pochettino and played in deeper role to allow Fernadez more freedom to attack. Buzzed around from start to finish, snapping at Liverpool heels in middle of park and moved the ball around sensibly. AP -
Ben Chilwell 7: Headed assist for Disasi’s opener, then rounded Alisson to finish calmly for Chelsea’s second goal in two first-half minutes - only for his celebrations to be cut short after VAR truled him offside. Shot straight at Becker after poor first touch forced him wide in second half. Getty -
Carney Chukwuemeka 7: Teenage midfielder picked up very early booking for high boot on Konate but didn’t let that affect him in solid performance that earned him standing ovation from home fans when brought off in second half. PA -
Raheem Sterling 7: Very lively first half as he and James tore down the right flank but influence waned as match went on and annoyed home fans at one point in second half when he passed backwards rather than attacking the Liverpool defence. PA -
Nicolas Jackson 7: Promising game from Senegalese new despite shanking one shot wide of target early on and then blazed an even better chance over bar just before break. Caused Liverpool lots and problems, but would have been relieved when handball in own area was ruled accidental after VAR check. Reuters -
SUBS: Malo Gusto (On for James 76’) N/A. Getty -
Ian Maatsen (On for Chukwuemeka 82’) N/A. Reuters -
Mykhailo Mudryk (On for Sterling 82’) N/A. -
Leslie Ugochukwu (On for Chilwell 90’) N/A. -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 7: Saved well at feet of Jackson after dangerous low cross by James in first half. Brazilian’s pass out from the back started the move for Diaz’s goal. A couple of regulation saves at his near post from Chilwell and Jackson after break. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold 7: Wonderful through-ball to Salah saw Egyptian score in first half only for VAR to rule it out. Being latest victime of new time-wasting laws when he was booked for delaying taking a throw-in midway through second half. AFP -
Ibrahima Konate 7: One very well-timed sliding challenge to block Fernadez shot in 10th minute and provided his usual usual physical presenece at the back. Stood up well to Chelsea pressure in the second half. PA -
Virgil van Dijk 7: Dutchman was solid enough in first game as Liverpool’s new captain after Jordan Henderson’s exit for Saudi Arabia in the face of mounting pressure after break. Curled nice strike over bar at start of second half. Getty -
Andrew Robertson 6: Looked isolated in first half as he struggled to deal with James and Sterling’s passing and movement down the Liverpool left. Better after the break, though. EPA -
Alexis Mac Allister 6: Argentine World Cup winner started his Liverpool career in the holding role and was solid if unspectacular. Uncharacteristically caught in possession a couple of times and Liverpool are still lacking the sort of midfield security the apparently Chelsea-bound Moises Caicedo would provide. Getty -
Dominik Szoboszlai 7: Hungarian glided around the pitch in style in first half and looked like he had been playing in the Premier League for years. Less effective in second as Liverpool lost their attacking momentum but looks like he will be excellent signing. PA -
Cody Gakpo 5: Disappointing afternoon for Dutchman who was neat and tidy in possession but never really got foothold in game. Taken off in second half. EPA -
Luis Diaz 7: Fine first-time finish to put team in front after fabulous move that went from one end of pitch to other. Turned out to be Liverpool’s only shot on target. EPA -
Mohamed Salah 8: Whirlwind first half hour saw him curl shot with weaker right foot against bar, teed-up Dias for opening goal with superb ball and then had fine finish ruled out in tight offside call. Quieter second half but was furious at being substituted with 13 minutes left. EPA -
Diogo Jota 6: Bar his shouting match with Fernandez that earned him a booking, the Portuguese was relatively quiet in the opening 45 minutes. Not really much of an impact after the break either and was no shock when he was hooked with 25 minutes to go. AP -
Curtis Jones (On for Gapko 66;) 6: Brought on with Chelsea dominating and restricted to helping team hold out defensively. PA -
Darwin Nunez (On for Jota 66’) 6: Had shot deflected just wide of Chelsea’s goal in injury-time. PA -
Ben Doak (On for Luiz 77’) N/A. Getty Harvey Elliot (On for Salah 77’) N/A.
Klopp had “absolutely nothing to say about that” but was adamant bringing players to Liverpool has not become a trickier task in recent months.
As a whole, however, he emphasised how much more difficult recruitment has become because of the rise of Saudi Arabia and the eye-watering sums they are willing to pay for players.
Klopp said: “I'm not sure it's something to do with Liverpool. Everything is more difficult. There are lot of things that are different, some clubs have just a different way to do it and somehow it works.
“As a normal club, it's really difficult to catch up with them. That's not my problem, it's just how it is. Saudi Arabia, on top of that, hasn't made things easier. The endless money causes a problem.
“It would be cool if someone could find a solution. It became more difficult, but not to convince players to come to Liverpool. You just have to make sure you go for the right ones.
“I sit here and I'm really happy with our transfer window in this moment. We will keep looking, we will try to make the best decisions for this club and we will not use money or anything else as an excuse.”
Klopp will once more be without Spanish duo Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara but added they are “really close” to a first-team return after the pair missed last week's 1-1 draw at Chelsea.
While Klopp was heartened by the displays of summer signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, he admitted Liverpool were slow out of the traps in their first match of the season.
He added: “We were not settled enough in the way we want to play. What we lacked in the game was rhythm, especially in possession.
“We had 35 per cent possession which is an absolute joke, it should not happen – it can happen against Manchester City on a special day for them and if it's an idea of ours to sit a little bit deeper.
“It was not our idea but it happened. We have solutions for our situation, they're just not available at the moment.”
