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YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca amid his poor form following the club's recent defeat.

What's the latest on Marc Roca and Leeds?

It certainly was a match to forget for the Whites on Monday night as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

Indeed, the Reds came to Elland Road and blew their opponents away as they netted six times, while Leeds only managed a consolation through Luis Sinisterra.

The loss means Javi Gracia's men are in real trouble down at the bottom of the Premier League, sitting just two points above the relegation zone with seven games to play.

After any 6-1 defeat, very few players will come out with any praise but it seems as though Roca stood out as one of the worst performers.

Indeed, while talking about the Spaniard on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan explained just how disappointed he's been with the midfielder of late.

He said (25:46): “I've said multiple times, I'm a big fan of Roca. He is embarrassing at the minute, embarrassing."

While talking about midfield partner Weston McKennie, he added (26:19): "I mean Marc Roca has been as bad recently so I'm not just gonna lay him [McKennie] out to dry.

"You know, I think it's just an absolute sham at the minute."

Is Marc Roca's form a big worry for Leeds?

Last weekend against Crystal Palace, the Whites also suffered a heavy defeat at Crystal Palace as they shipped five goals in front of their own fans.

In that game, LeedsLive writer Beren Cross signed Roca out for criticism too, handing him 3/10 in the player ratings.

While he noted: "Began promisingly, but all of his boisterous energy and will to impress amounted to naive anticipation of what was going on around him. Found himself dribbled past by the opposition on at least seven occasions."

With that being the case, it's not hard to see why the £50k-p/w Leeds United star is starting to lose some fans amongst his own fanbase.

And with midfielder partner Tyler Adams still out injured after having to undergo under the knife to help fix a hamstring problem picked up in March, there is even more pressure on Roca to step up with his displays in the middle of the park.

All in all, it's been a bad spell for the Spaniard and if he can't turn his form around, he may be playing in the Championship next term.

Pep Guardiola could be about to pull off another stroke of genius in the transfer market after winger Riyad Mahrez was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Man City transfer news – Riyad Mahrez

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Mahrez has been subject to an approach from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.

Romano stated that the Algerian winger had been the target of a bumper bid from Saudi Arabia as clubs from the country target top talent in Europe with the help of the nation’s Public Investment Fund.

Mahrez has two years left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, so the European champions would look for a sizable fee from Al-Ahli to let the winger leave the club.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Italian journalist Rudy Galetti confirmed the approach and expects a decision on the future of Mahrez to be made soon.

"We know for sure he received a big offer from Al-Ahli three weeks ago that he rejected. But a few days before the Champions League final, the Saudi Arabian club presented a new huge bid. The response of the player has not yet arrived and is expected soon," he said.

Could Guardiola repeat his Gabriel Jesus masterstroke?

One of the reasons Man City and Guardiola have been so successful in recent seasons is their ruthlessness in the transfer market.

Unlike rivals like Manchester United and Liverpool, City don’t fear letting club legends and fan favourites walk before their sell-by date, and Mahrez – who was previously hailed as a "genius" by both The Guardian's Barney Ronay and his former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri – could be the next player to depart, despite still possessing much of the magician-like quality a treble-winning side needs.

The club continue to rebuild and reshape the team even while the team is performing on the pitch, as opposed to changing things once it is desperately needed.

Take the sale of Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, for example.

City offloaded the Brazilian striker to their Premier League rivals for £45m last summer after signing him back in 2017 for an estimated £27m from Brazilian club Palmeiras.

The Spaniard let Jesus walk in his prime at the age of 25, and eyebrows were raised over the sale.

City wasted no time in replacing him, snapping up Julian Alvarez the same summer after agreeing a deal for the Argentinian in the January window.

Alvarez cost just £14m and has shown fantastic potential playing behind arguably the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland.

City legend Richard Dunne praised City for their remarkable work in the market.

Speaking to Virgin Media Sport, Dunne stated:

“The whole recruitment, they don’t make many mistakes.

“They did get it wrong at the start maybe with a couple of players here and there but now over the last three or four years every single player who has come in, you look at Alvarez, he was £15m, £16m so well affordable for the whole of the Premier League and most of Europe, but City were the ones who went out and got him."

The sale of Jesus not only made the club a significant profit but replacing him with the cheap option of Alvarez has worked wonders and created City more breathing room under the Financial Fair Play rules.

Mahrez, who cost £60m in 2018, could be another man who leaves the Etihad Stadium despite still having significant potential to help the side. It’s a smart business decision from Guardiola and City and allows more funds to be made available to City to spend this summer.

Newcastle United may have moved their attention to defence in regards to their next transfer business, with Spazio Napoli, via Sport Witness, reporting that the Toon are now keeping close tabs on Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

How many games has Giovanni Di Lorenzo played for Napoli?

The right-back has spent the last four seasons with current club Napoli, and has long been an important player for the side. Even when he first linked up with the Serie A outfit from former club Empoli, he was thrown straight in and given 33 appearances in that very first campaign.

He has since managed to rack up 139 league outings for the now champions of Italy during his time there, and with ten goals and seventeen assists along the way, he has proven to be an asset going forward for the club too.

Having spent the entirety of his career in Italy though, it appears a potential change may be on the cards. That's because according to a report from Spazio Napoli, via Sport Witness, the right-back is now on the radar of Newcastle United.

The Premier League side are keeping a close eye on the player now, with the 29-year-old seemingly now on their transfer wishlist. It adds that this interest in Di Lorenzo has only materialised over the "last few hours".

It means that no bid has yet been made and no official approach has come forth but Napoli are "worried" by the interest due to the financial might the Magpies now possess.

How much is Giovanni Di Lorenzo worth?

It's unclear how much a potential deal for Di Lorenzo may cost Newcastle. However, Transfermarkt suggest that his value is around the 25 million Euros mark (or £21.5m). It means that a deal wouldn't break the bank for the Toon if it was that amount, especially considering their new ownership, but it would still represent a profit on the player for Napoli.

He could be worth that amount too when you consider how well he has played for Napoli. Football journalist Josh Bunting has previously stated that a goal from Napoli was helped by a "perfect" ball from Di Lorenzo and has also called the player "excellent" too.

The Napoli man has warranted these superlatives then and it means that his signing could represent good business for Newcastle. They already have Kieran Trippier on that right flank but he would provide a good battle for that spot and sufficient depth as they embark into four competitions next term.

While the recent early exit from the Carabao Cup will no doubt have stung for Tottenham Hotspur, it has largely been a positive start to life under new boss Ange Postecoglou so far, with two wins and a draw from the club's opening three Premier League games.

Despite that solid opening to the new regime, it looks as if the former Celtic boss is still keen to further strengthen before the end of the window, with Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo a player of particular interest to the Lilywhites.

How much would Tosin Adarabioyo cost?

Following reports linking Spurs with a move for the 25-year-old earlier in the summer, 90min has reported in recent days that the north Londoners still hold a strong interest in the 6 foot 5 titan, with the player 'set to move on' before the close of the window.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

As per the piece, Postecoglou and co are believed to have offered Eric Dier to the Cottagers as a potential sweetener in the deal, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the 29-year-old will move on this summer, after spending the last nine years at Tottenham.

With just a year left to run on his contract, Adarabioyo is likely to be available for something of a bargain fee if he is to depart any time soon, with a €15m (£13m) fee having previously been suggested.

How good is Tosin Adarabioyo?

Previously dubbed "immense" by former boss Tony Mowbray during his time on loan at Blackburn Rovers, it is fair to say that the current Fulham man has particularly blossomed since making the move to Craven Cottage back in 2020, having begun life on the books at Manchester City.

108

3

2

35

3

1

36

0

2

8

0

0

The towering asset was particularly impressive last term as the then newly-promoted side comfortable mid-table finish, notably averaging a solid 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game from his 25 league outings – a better return than Dier achieved for instance (two tackles and interceptions per game from 33 appearances).

While, as stated above, Dier may be keen to stay put beyond the deadline, the signing of a figure like Adarabioyo could well help to nudge him out the door even if the Englishman does not head in the other direction to Fulham, with Bayern Munich having been touted as a possible option of late.

As per journalist Ryan Taylor, the former Sporting CP man is arguably "nowhere near the required level for what Spurs are trying to achieve", hence why he has found himself out of the picture under Postecoglou thus far.

One particular benefit of bringing Adarabioyo into the fold would be his ability to play out from the back as he notably ranks in the top 18% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, while Dier ranks in just the bottom 40% in that regard.

With the latter man having potentially outstayed his welcome – as pundit Frank McAvennie previously suggested that "Tottenham will not succeed with Dier in the team" – the signing of a standout replacement could well be what is needed for Postecoglou to finally send him packing.

Transfer insider Dean Jones believes a Manchester United takeover could make a summer move for Jude Bellingham ‘more possible’.

What’s Jones had to say on Man United and Bellingham?

The Red Devils are set for a busy few months both on and off the pitch, with Erik ten Hag’s side pushing for a top-four finish and more silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League after lifting the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

An Old Trafford takeover also appears to be a possibility, with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe submitting revised offers last month to take control from the Glazers. Jassim previously wanted 'things done quickly' so he could help Ten Hag in the transfer market, with reports last month suggesting he is a ‘huge fan’ of Bellingham and is plotting a stunning United move.

Talking to GiveMeSport, Jones feels that a takeover at Old Trafford could help them in a potential move for Bellingham, however, he also cited the time Bellingham turned down a move to Manchester in favour of heading to Germany.

"I think a takeover would make it more possible and they could come back into the Bellingham conversation a bit stronger. But the fact is Bellingham already had the chance to join Man United once, and he didn't take it? Maybe he feels more ready for that now, certainly could be that.”

Do Man United have a chance to sign Bellingham?

Fabrizio Romano stated last month that United's current board weren’t actively working on signing Bellingham this summer, so a takeover may have to go through relatively quickly in order for the Red Devils to have a chance of a potential deal.

That’s because there is plenty of competition for the 19-year-old’s services, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid all feeling they have put compelling cases forward for Bellingham to join them. Dortmund will also reportedly only consider selling for a club-record fee in excess of €144m (£126m), which would smash the current transfer record at Old Trafford.

Bellingham has been hailed as a "superstar" by former United captain Roy Keane, and with Ten Hag after a midfielder and forward this summer, securing a move for Bellingham would surely make Jassim a popular man in Manchester straightaway. A lot needs to happen, though, but it appears as if there may be a chance to sign the England international, providing Jassim manages to strike a deal with the Glazers over the coming months.

TalkSport pundit Darren Bent has mooted Thomas Frank as a suitable replacement for Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur if the Italian leaves in the near future.

Will Antonio Conte leave Spurs?

After defeat in the Champions League this week, Spurs are set to end yet another season without lifting a major trophy.

Seeing as Conte was brought in as a proven winner to try to help the club end what is now a 15-year wait for silverware, it’s safe to say things have not gone to plan.

Consequently, there is already talk that Tottenham could begin the hunt for a new manager very soon, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel being referenced recently by The Guardian.

While speaking about this on TalkSport, Bent suggested that Brentford boss Frank could possibly be a risk worth taking for the Lilywhites.

He said: “I like Thomas Frank. Maybe a slight risk because it’s a step up from Brentford, but he’s got all the credentials.

“And when I say credentials, look what he’s doing with this Brentford side in the Premier League.”

Why would Spurs hire Frank over Pochettino?

Seeing as Frank has been a Premier League manager for less than two seasons, his relative experience at the top level would understandably make him a bit of a risk.

Still, he’s done brilliantly with Brentford to get them promoted and then lead them to a 13th-placed finish as well as having them push for European football this season as they are currently ninth in the league

What’s more, they are currently on a run of 12 league matches without defeat – the longest in the division, despite taking on Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and even Tottenham during their past 10 outings

With that in mind, it’s clear to see how he could have the quality to go and impress at a club like Spurs, who could offer more financial backing than the Bees. What’s more, he would also likely cost less in wages than Pochettino or Tuchel due to his lack of big-club experience.

It will no doubt be interesting to see if Frank is considered when Conte does depart.

Newcastle United are interested in making a move for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to a new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Ward-Prowse a standout for Saints

Saints are having a tough season in the Premier League, looking like they could get relegated to the Championship, as things stand.

While many of their players have struggled throughout the campaign, one individual who seems to have continued to produce consistently strong performances is Ward-Prowse.

The 28-year-old has been a talisman for Southampton, scoring seven goals and registering two assists, including a stunning trademark free-kick winner away to Chelsea.

Ward-Prowse could feel that it is time for a fresh challenge this summer, however, and if Saints go down, it is difficult to see him remain at the club.

That’s where Newcastle come into play, as they look to make significant signings during the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing up move

According to Football Insider, the Magpies are ‘eyeing up a move’ for Ward-Prowse at the end of the season, seeing him as a strong option to bring in.

The report states that the Englishman ‘is set to quit the Saints in the summer if they fail to stay in the Premier League’ and Newcastle have sent scouts to watch him in action. They are not alone in that respect, though, with Liverpool and Manchester United doing the same.

Ward-Prowse’s current Saints deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, so it will likely take a big offer to prise him away from the south coast club.

The Verdict: Great option for Magpies

Ward-Prowse could be an excellent signing by Newcastle, coming in as someone with a wealth of experience and quality who can enhance Eddie Howe’s squad depth greatly from the off.

At 28, the 11-cap England ace is at the peak of his powers and that shouldn’t change over the next three or four years, especially given his endurance levels in midfield.

Ward-Prowse’s free-kick ability speaks for itself, with few in Europe better than him in that area, and Nathan Jones hailed him as ‘absolutely world-class’ during his time in charge of Southampton.

Away from the technical aspects of his game, the £100,000-a-week midfielder is also a tenacious figure who would suit Newcastle’s hard-working style well, having averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game in the league this season, as well as picking up a total of five yellow cards.

West Brom conceded in the final dying moments at the Hawthorns last match to lose to Leicester City 2-1, exposed on the break after overcommitting numbers with Harry Winks sliding in to convert a crucial winner for Enzo Maresca's Foxes.

Carlos Corberan will hope that his Baggies side won't be too disheartened by the nature of narrow defeat, that loss was only West Brom's second loss from their last five Championship matches with wins coming in the other contests.

Grady Diangana continues to underperform for the West Midlands side which will be a worry for Corberan, the exciting Congolese forward coming away from the Leicester match with a dire overall 6.2 Sofascore rating.

It was a lacklustre 75-minute display from the Baggies number 11 – only mustering up one shot all game which was blocked – with his first team future in jeopardy if he continues to underwhelm.

On the contrary, former West Brom dud Kamil Grosicki – who can usually operate on the opposite flank to where Diangana regularly features for his team – is now outperforming the misfiring 25-year-old with his new employers back in his native Poland.

How much West Brom signed Kamil Grosicki for

West Brom must have thought they'd struck gold when they signed a then in-form Grosicki for a reported fee of £800k with add ons, poaching the winger from Hull City.

Grosicki had been a consistent bright spark for the Tigers amidst turmoil off the field alongside Jarrod Bowen, the popular Polish attacker breaking Hull hearts when he moved on – scoring 26 goals and assisting a further 27 over four seasons at the MKM Stadium.

The move to West Brom just didn't work out for Grosicki however, leaving the Hawthorns on a free transfer after a torrid short stay at the club.

Kamil Grosicki's statistics at West Brom

Grosicki would only manage to score one goal for the Baggies from 19 appearances, the attacking midfielder never acclimatising to his new surroundings in the west Midlands fully.

It led to Grosicki having a frosty relationship with then West Brom boss Sam Allardyce, the one-time Bolton Wanderers boss turned Baggies short-term appointment calling the former Tigers man out for rejecting a move away from the club that could have been a lifeline.

Allardyce was rather blunt when questioned about Grosicki's lack of opportunities at the Hawthorns in the first team: "He could've gone to Nottingham Forest, but he refused."

Instead, Grosicki would have to pick up the pieces of his disintegrating football career back in his native Poland when he was released by the Baggies in 2021 with the 35-year-old now having the last laugh.

Grosicki would rejoin Pogoń Szczecin, the club that started the Polish winger's footballing journey in 2006 that saw him play in the EFL and beyond.

Kamil Grosicki's statistics since leaving West Brom

The 35-year-old, who now wears the captain's armband for his hometown club, has been the standout performer this season for Pogoń Szczecin.

Scoring 13 times in total during his first full season back on home soil, the experienced attacker has eight goals and nine assists in all competitions so far this campaign.

Three of those goal contributions even came in Europa Conference qualifying for Pogoń Szczecin, helping his team beat Northern Irish opposition Linfield 5-2 away at Windsor Park.

In contrast, Diangana for the Baggies only has three goals and three assists in Championship action this season.

Grosicki will continue firing in goals and providing teammates with assists out in Poland to end his career with a bang, whilst Diangana back at the Hawthorns needs to pick up form quickly or face the axe by an impatient Corberan.

Tottenham Hotspur have registered their interest over a potential move for Folarin Balogun from rivals Arsenal, however, a report has shared the other Premier League clubs who are also in the race for the forward.

Are Spurs signing a striker?

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy appear to be on the search for a new forward before the September 1 deadline after cashing in on Harry Kane earlier this month.

Those in north London sold the England international to Bayern Munich in a deal worth around €100 million (£86m) plus an extra €20 million (£17.2m) in possible add-ons.

Postecoglou has Richarlison as the only senior striker available to him, with teenager Alejo Veliz joining earlier in the summer.

A number of attackers have been linked with moves to Spurs, including KAA Gent’s Gift Orban and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson. Another player who has been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Balogun, and an update has emerged.

According to The Daily Mail, Balogun has been deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal and is valued at £50m by the Gunners. The report claims that Tottenham are a side who have made an enquiry for the attacker, alongside both Chelsea and West Ham.

Balogun has spent time training away from Arsenal’s senior side this summer as the Gunners look to raise some funds late in the window, with Monaco, AC Milan and Inter Milan also keen on the striker’s services.

Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun

Who is Folarin Balogun?

Balogun is primarily a centre-forward who can also turn out on either wing if required. The 22-year-old, who has represented the USA at senior international level, appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which has rocketed over the past 12 months.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

In total, Balogun, sponsored by Adidas, has made just 10 senior appearances for the Gunners in all competitions and has caught the eye out on loan. The forward spent last season in France with Stade Reims and contributed to an impressive 25 goals in 39 appearances.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has also praised Balogun in the past as a "special" striker and believes he's "really brave".

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave," said Arteta.

“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special."

It could be a deal to keep an eye on, however, with Arsenal likely to inflate the price of the player to a direct rival, Spurs may well find it difficult to strike a deal for Balogun, meaning they may end up moving on to other targets such as Orban or Johnson.

Liverpool secured their third Europa League victory of the season with a noteworthy performance over French side Toulouse at Anfield on Thursday night, extending their perfect record in the group phase.

Having performed so poorly last season but captured the essence of Jurgen Klopp's system once more since the summer, the Reds' triumph in the continental competition appears to be on the cards.

Having finished fifth in the Premier League last season, Champions League football this year slipped out of reach but the resounding start to the campaign has placed Liverpool in early title contention, albeit alongside multiple rivals at this stage.

But the balance has been restored and against Toulouse, the kind of attacking intensity and incisiveness was most pleasing ahead of an important phase of the season.

Liverpool were "emphatic" vs Toulouse

Klopp was delighted after another victory and so too was The Athletic's James Pearce, who praised the "emphatic" showing and the growing cohesion within this new-look Merseyside squad.

Putting five past TFC, the offensive flow was laudable, though Thijs Dallinga's equalising goal after Diogo Jota's fleet-footed opener was a product of a defensive mishap from Joe Gomez and teenage starting debutant Luke Chambers.

There will be sterner tests to come, and it is perhaps telling that dropped points this season have come against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, three of the toughest opposition faced this term, but the manner of the win left Klopp and the adoring Anfield support enraptured.

The Europa League group phase, at no disrespect to the opposition, may not be the sternest test of Liverpool, who could be wanting to fight for the one piece of silverware that has evaded Klopp's grasp, and their quality.

That being said, desultory displays will be punished, and the first half against LASK in September highlighted this, with renewed vigour after the break turning the deficit on its head.

In an idealised world, Liverpool would be fighting among Europe's elite in the Champions League for a fourth final under the German manager's wing, but last season's failure has enforced a return to the rung below on the ladder, and now securing success is crucial.

Making good use of the whole squad is crucial in this regard, with many first-teamers in the Premier League relegated to the bench on Thursday night once again.

Ryan Gravenberch retained his place after earning a maiden appearance from the outset in the English top-flight last weekend, during victory over rivals Everton, and the 21-year-old ace is swiftly emerging as a starring member of this resurgent team.

Ryan Gravenberch's performance vs Toulouse

Having failed to impress with German champions Bayern Munich last season after signing from Ajax in 2022, Gravenberch completed a £34m transfer to the Reds late in August, with each passing performance bolstering the decision to secure his signature.

With a license to shine this year, the £150k-per-week midfielder has already notched up two goals and assists apiece across all competitions, and left reporter Neil Jones claiming he has "got the lot" after a sensational showing against French opposition.

Statistic

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Minutes played

70'

Goals

1

Shots on target

4

Pass completion

26/27 (96%)

Key passes

3

Dribble attempts

2/2 (100%)

Ground duels won

6/9 (66%)

Tackles

3

Interceptions

2

Touches

49

It was, quite simply, an all-action performance of the highest merit, and it's becoming increasingly clear that at Bayern Munich this dynamic Dutchman's qualities were not developed as best as they could have been.

He's not without blame, having failed to endear himself to either Julian Nagelsmann or Thomas Tuchel, but with the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka ahead in the pecking order, opportunities were limited.

At Liverpool, he has been promised a platform to demonstrate his skills and has taken this with aplomb so far, and while he deserves the plaudits for his standout performance in red so far, the impressive account that holding midfielder Wataru Endo has given for himself, another summer signing, will have left Klopp positively delighted.

Wataru Endo has announced himself

When Liverpool purchased Endo, aged 30, from German Bundesliga side Stuttgart for around £16m after losing out on both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, were was a chorus of apprehension that Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke had fumbled the bag quite considerably.

But the veteran Japan midfielder is slowly proving his astute worth, and, against Toulouse, his assiduous role led journalist David Lynch to remark on the “outstanding” part he played.

Bagging his first goal for the club after deftly and accurately guiding Trent Alexander-Arnold's curling delivery home, Endo complemented his strike with an immense match driving away danger and recycling possession for the likes of Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez to wreak havoc in the final third.

As per Sofascore, having played the full 90, he took 87 touches and completed 66/69 (96%) of his passes, making two key passes and winning a whopping ten duels, also forging five tackles and three interceptions.

Alexis Mac Allister has been filling in in the No. 6 position in the Premier League and is undoubtedly the more technically adept of the two, but Endo's prowess as the natural anchor offers a valuable extra dimension.

Toulouse were overpowered, and the £50k-per-week machine played his part to near perfection, though he was dribbled past on three occasions and does lack a bit of mobility and raw pace.

Nonetheless, having lost possession just four times despite his placement in the innermost point of the pitch, he controlled the flow and snuffed out French advances impressively; it was a performance that announced his ability and confirmed that he has what it takes to do a job for an outfit targetting a silver-laden crescendo to the campaign.

For the majority of the Premier League, Endo's arrival on Merseyside went unremarked after Liverpool's failure to sign two coveted, more high-profile targets.

But there is a growing sense that the strong battler will prove to be a most valuable member of an ambitious crop of players and he boasts the industrious attributes to really make a difference throughout the campaign, as shown by his performance on Thursday night.

Gravenberch dazzled on the European stage and unsurprisingly stole the headlines, but do not not forget how important Endo was during the emphatic win, which has effectively sealed Liverpool's place at the top of Group E, five points ahead of Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse at the midpoint.

Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard was among those to wax lyrical following Liverpool's acquisition, pronouncing Endo a "proper warrior and leader."

Such qualities are imperative to the Reds' chances of success across multiple fronts this year, and Klopp's new man proved against Toulouse that he is every bit the calibre of player to thrive at Anfield, holding the team together with his tough, energetic midfield work.

Therefore, Endo could be Klopp's new hero alongside Gravenberch in the middle of the park if he is provided with an opportunity to play regular football, based on the pair's respective displays against Toulouse.