Wataru Endo knows Liverpool fans were surprised by his arrival.

The Japan midfielder made the move in August from VfB Stuttgart.

"It was a surprise for Liverpool fans for me to come here, but the manager knew me very well as a player," says Endo. "That was a very important thing to me.

"After I first came here I have had some conversations with him. The manager told me that he had known of me when I was at Stuttgart. And he told me 'we are so offensive as a team, we need a number six, a defensive midfielder'. That's why I came here.

"What I do here hasn't changed from what I've done with Stuttgart and the national team. I just try to do my best in every game and training session. It's getting better, definitely. If I play like I did for Stuttgart and the Japan national team, then I can play for Liverpool, yes."

Endo adds: "The difference here is the German teams like to sit back more when they defend, but here at Liverpool we always press high.

"The first couple of games were quite difficult because a lot of the time we were down to 10 men! When we're training I just try to do my best, the intensity and physicality in England are totally different to Germany. But now I think I have adapted, and now I'm showing my best on the pitch. That is the most important thing for me.

"I feel a lot more comfortable when I'm playing now. Also it helps that the other players also know me better. I feel much better."