LIVERPOOL possesses a hidden asset as they aim to convert their Premier League lead into a championship.

Arne Slot has a player gaining a reputation as the perfect choice to secure a game’s outcome.

However, the Kop manager didn’t use Wataru Endo in the closing moments against Newcastle.

Some Liverpool fans believe this decision cost the team two points, as Fabian Schar scored a last-minute equalizer in the thrilling 3-3 draw at St James’ Park last week.

Supersubs like David Fairclough and Divock Origi are part of Anfield history.

Yet, role player Endo has made his impact by preventing goals rather than scoring, despite only playing 20 minutes of top-flight football this season.

In Japan, Endo’s home country, baseball is the most popular sport.

Similar to a closing pitcher brought in to halt opposing batters from scoring, Endo has been effective as a substitute in securing victories for Liverpool.

Since joining from VfB Stuttgart in summer 2023, the Reds have conceded just once during his 15 Premier League appearances as a substitute.

That lone goal was a stoppage-time own goal by Joel Matip, giving Tottenham a 2-1 win in September 2023.

Endo has been brought on 11 times since and the Reds have not let in a single goal.

And the only other top-flight match Liverpool have lost after the midfielder’s introduction was the 2-0 defeat at Everton in April, when the Toffees scored both their goals before his arrival.

Overall, Endo’s record as a Premier League sub is played 15, won 11, drawn two, lost two, across a total of 1 9 minutes of football.

His only top-flight goal was the 87th-minute equaliser against Fulham in December last year, four minutes after coming on for Ryan Gravenberch.

And a minute later Trent Alexander-Arnold scored what turned out to be the winner in a -3 victory.

Endo, 31, has been on the field for only 20 minutes in the Premier League this season, across six substitute appearances.

But Reds fans will wonder whether his energy and combativeness would have allowed them to see out another come-from-behind win at Newcastle in their last Premier League match.

Slot has had a brilliant start as Liverpool boss, guiding the team clear at the top of the league in his debut season after replacing Jurgen Klopp.

But one area where the Reds are lagging behind is in substitutions changing games.

Slot bottom of the league

In fact, Slot is bottom of the table of Premier League bosses for making an attacking impact with substitutions.

So far the Dutchman has made 56 changes in 1 games, but none of his replacements have scored and only three times has a sub created a goal.

At the other end of the table is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, whose 72 substitutes have produced seven goals and 13 assists between them.

Slot could quite reasonably argue that Liverpool are sitting top of the league because he gets his starting XI right and makes changes mainly to stop the opposition from coming back into games, rather than to score more goals.

Maybe the Kop boss missed a trick by not bringing Endo on against Newcastle.

But Liverpool continue to be linked with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, after failing to land the Spain midfielder in the summer.

Gravenberch has been a revelation in the No 6 role under Slot, which has been a big factor in the lack of opportunities for Endo.

If the Japan star is still at the club after January, he may yet have an important role to play as Liverpool try to close out a record-equalling 20th English title win.

Arne Slot’s substitutions have failed to make an impactCre