Former Premier League winner Martin Keown has praised Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson for adapting his game in recent weeks.
The 28-year-old has excelled further forward in midfield and is now producing his finest form of the season. Keown, it’s safe to say, has been very impressed by the England international.
“It turns out the reason Jordan Henderson is being used further forward for Liverpool comes from a conversation he had with his manager,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column. “The England midfielder felt brave enough to suggest it to Jurgen Klopp, who said he would think about it. Now, his boss is backing him.
“I’ve watched Henderson closely and the 28-year-old is clever in the way he picks his moments to arrive in the box. If he continues to be used in that position, he will start to score important goals for Liverpool.
“Fabinho looks like he is making that spot in the centre of Liverpool’s midfield his own. There is good competition with Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Naby Keita, too. Showing he can be used in a different way adds a string to Henderson’s bow.”
OPINION
It’s difficult to argue with anything Keown says, here. Henderson has been magnificent over the past few games and is very much a favourite of Klopp’s once again. The former Sunderland man is now very much an integral part of this Liverpool team, which hasn’t always been the case this season. As Keown says, Fabinho is very much a certain starter in the holding midfield position these days. That leaves two positions in midfield for four players to fight for. For a long time Wijnaldum was an automatic selection. However, the Dutchman’s recent nose dive in form has meant that Henderson and Keita have seemingly moved ahead of him – Wednesday’s rest against Porto aside. The former is flourishing in the more advanced role that he asked for. His goal against Southampton recently was a perfect encapsulation of what he offers in this new role, driving forward and arriving at the perfect time to steer the ball home. Hopefully we’ll see a bit more of that down the stretch this term.
