Wataru Endo starts at Stamford Bridge, receives Guard of Honour from Chelsea trio who rejected Liverpool
Liverpool's Wataru Endo celebrates with Liverpool's Harvey Elliott after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
A Guard of Honour and a Starting Spot
Liverpool's trip to Stamford Bridge on May 4, 2025, carried little weight in terms of stakes, the title had already been secured with four games to spare. But for Wataru Endo, it was a moment rich with symbolism. Named in the starting lineup for the first time in the
Premier League
this season, The 31-year-old was one of six changes made by manager Arne Slot, with rotation expected after securing the title with four games to spare. While the changes included fresh opportunities for players like Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, and Diogo Jota, it was Endo's inclusion that caught fans' attention most.
The Japanese midfielder was not only part of a completely restructured midfield trio, but also received a guard of honour from Chelsea , a moment full of irony and satisfaction for Liverpool fans. Standing on either side of him were Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, two players who famously rejected Liverpool in the summer of 2023 to join Chelsea instead. The fact that Endo, who was signed only after those pursuits failed, now walked past them as a Premier League champion was not lost on supporters.
Fans Embrace the 'Poetic Justice'
Reactions from Liverpool fans online were unanimous in tone: this was poetic justice. Caicedo and Lavia had been seen as top midfield targets for Liverpool two years ago. Both snubbed the Reds, opting for Stamford Bridge where they signed long-term contracts with high expectations. Enzo Fernandez, another Chelsea midfielder often touted as a Liverpool 'miss', also featured in the Chelsea XI.
But Liverpool's Plan C, Wataru Endo, has quietly written a different story. Signed for £16 million from Stuttgart, the veteran was never meant to be the headline act in the club's midfield rebuild. Liverpool had targeted younger, Premier League-proven talents with potential resale value and high ceilings. Endo, then 30 and captain of a Bundesliga relegation battler, did not fit that mould.
And yet, while Lavia has managed just 11 starts in two injury-hit seasons, and Caicedo's performances have come under constant scrutiny, Endo has gone on to play a key role in a title-winning campaign and earn cult hero status among fans as as Liverpool's famed 'finisher'.
Slot's Rotation Signals Trust in Squad Depth
Arne Slot's selection choices also highlighted his intent to keep the squad fresh and motivated in the closing stages of the season. For the first time in a league match, none of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, or Dominik Szoboszlai started in midfield. Slot turned instead to a trio of Endo, Elliott, and Jones, rewarding squad players with meaningful minutes in a low-stakes but symbolically rich fixture.
With Alisson still chasing his 10th clean sheet of the season, and Salah pursuing a Premier League goal contribution record, the game also carried individual significance.
Mohamed Salah
lined up alongside Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota in attack, needing two more goal contributions to break the single-season record of 48.
From Backup Plan to Title Winner
Endo's journey from Stuttgart captain to title-winning starter at Liverpool is emblematic of how plans can change and still succeed. After the failures to sign Caicedo and Lavia, his arrival seemed a stopgap. But his calm presence, reliability, and tactical intelligence have proven invaluable. Slot's decision to start him in such a symbolically charged game – and to do so alongside the very players who once turned down Liverpool – capped off an unlikely but deeply satisfying narrative arc.
For Wataru Endo, applauded onto the pitch by those who once seemed destined for his place, Sunday wasn't just another start. It was vindication.
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