Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday after a dominant 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, adding another historic chapter to their rich legacy. The win made Japan captain Wataru Endo the latest player from his country to lift the prestigious English top-flight trophy.
The 32-year-old Endo joins a select group of Japanese players who have won the Premier League: Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United, 2012-2013), Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City, 2015-2016), and Takumi Minamino (Liverpool, 2019-2020). Junichi Inamoto was also part of Arsenal’s 2001-2002 title-winning squad, though he did not make a league appearance that season.
Liverpool initially fell behind to a 12th-minute header from Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke, but they responded quickly. Luis Diaz tapped in the equalizer, Alexis Mac Allister blasted home a stunning 20-meter strike, and Cody Gakpo added a clever goal to put the Reds 3-1 up by halftime.
After the break, Mohamed Salah scored his league-leading 28th goal of the season, followed by an own goal from Destiny Udogie. Endo came on in the 76th minute for Trent Alexander-Arnold, helping Liverpool close out the match and secure their 20th league title—tying Manchester United for the most in English history.
The final whistle set off wild celebrations among the Anfield faithful, capped by a rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” This time, the fans could celebrate inside the stadium, a moment they missed when Liverpool won their previous title during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In his first season at Liverpool, Endo initially thrived under former manager Jurgen Klopp as a defensive midfielder. Under new boss Arne Slot, however, his role has been more limited, with Ryan Gravenberch often preferred for his ball progression skills. Despite making all 17 of his league appearances off the bench, Endo has proven vital when Liverpool needed to defend leads late in matches.
Captain Virgil van Dijk praised Endo’s leadership and impact, telling the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday, “I am really happy with him and hopefully he can still be around for at least another few years.”
Adding to the celebrations, Liverpool announced they will visit Japan this summer for the first time since the 2005 Club World Cup final. They will face Yokohama F. Marinos at Nissan Stadium on July 30 as part of their preseason Asia tour.
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