In a number of ways, Wataru Endo is proving to be the exception to the rule at Liverpool.
At the age of 30, Endo represents a break in that strategy. Instead he has added a sprinkling of experience to a squad that has seen its average age tumble.
Liverpool's general recruitment policy is such where age is concerned that Klopp revealed he had to convince the club's Fenway Sports Group owners to sanction the £16m deal
Klopp
It is always a discussion we have,"
"The owners really want 200 games at 20 years old. That is pretty difficult. I didn’t need any kind of convincing.
"I know that the best time for a football player is from 27 to 33 in a normal career. It depends on injuries, of course. That is why I did not need to change anything and he was on my list from the beginning."
But while Endo arrives with 13 years of senior experience, his age - like Klopp references - is not yet in the ballpark where a player's performances might naturally start to decline
It is hoped the defensive-minded Endo will complement his more forward-thinking and youthful colleagues in a new-look engine room at Liverpool
That Endo was signed for £16m just days after what would have been a British-record £111m deal for Moises Caicedo collapsed gave weight to the theory of muddled thinking behind the scenes at Liverpool this summer.
Had Endo been signed earlier in the window, however, his relatively modest fee and profile as an international captain who would provide dependable cover would surely have been viewed in a more flattering light.
Klopp said
It is a transfer that is not in the public eye,"
"It’s not, ‘oh my God!’ and probably nobody at this moment is writing a new song about him. But wait.
"He has something that Liverpool supporters will love, definitely.
"He is already used to [wearing] red a little bit, so that’s good, and when he puts that shirt on he will throw everything on the pitch and the people will love that.”
As the only natural 'No.6' in the squad - in the typical sense of the role - Endo will be needed for his ability to cover the ground, snap into tackles and win the ball back
The Reds boss will no doubt have watched on with a keen interest as Endo helped keep Hansi Flick's men at bay in the Volkswagen Arena with a midfield display full of hard work and tenacity
As a fiercely proud German, seeing Endo shine will likely have left Klopp with mixed emotions on Saturday evening but he is surely relishing the opportunity to really get to work with meshing his midfield together
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