Jordan Henderson has revealed that he has held talks with Jurgen Klopp over the Liverpool manager playing him in a more advanced role.
The Reds’ captain has been employed in a more attacking role in recent matches and has flourished, putting in standout performances against Southampton and FC Porto.
And Henderson has suggested that the tweaking of his position came from an open chat with his boss.
As quoted in the Daily Mail, he said: “As a captain and as a player at this football club, I always put the team first. I do whatever the manager tells us to do really. But when we had the conversation I felt that I could speak my mind. I felt I could play further forward in that role.
“Me and the gaffer just had a conversation. He saw the England games, I felt good in playing in that position but he said it was something that he said he would think about.
“I can do both positions and he sees that I can do both. It’s basically what he wants and he needs from the team. I felt more comfortable and natural in that position for England, creating chances further up and doing what I enjoy doing. If I need to play there, I can do the job.”
OPINION
If we’re being honest, Henderson has never really been a holding midfielder. The Liverpool captain, to his credit, has done an admirable job down the years for the Reds, but when all is said and done, he is much more comfortable striding forward and linking the play in advanced positions than his sitting in a breaking things up. That has always been the way of his game, right from his days as a youngster at Sunderland, but it is almost as if when he assumed the captaincy from Steven Gerrard, he also assumed the defensive duties of the latter’s twilight days at Anfield. Now, hopefully, with Fabinho in the squad to cover that role, Henderson can push on more frequently and show just how good he can be in the final third. It’s also a great sign that he feels comfortable enough with Jurgen Klopp to openly discuss these kinds of things, and it shows that the manager runs a happy and healthy ship.
