OPINION
Liverpool have had many heroes in their squad in the previous couple of seasons.
Back-to-back Champions League finals delivered their sixth success in the competition, as well as a Premier League season in which they only lost once.
Many plaudits have instantly gone to marquee players such as Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane for their efforts in both campaigns.
Yes, they definitely deserve every drop of recognition they receive from every fan, pundit, and journalist combined – but it’s some of the under-the-radar players that sometimes deserve it that little bit more.
Jordan Henderson has gone from strength to strength whilst at Liverpool, taking the captain’s armband on a permanent basis in the heart of midfield.
Former Liverpool playmaker Xabi Alonso was quick to pick out Henderson in an interview with the BBC, claiming he is integral to the way Jurgen Klopp sets out his side.
“Jordan Henderson has become a figure in the changing room. I think he’s so respected, so important for his team-mates – that’s the sense I get from watching in the stands. For the way they play it’s very important, the energy he has,” he said.
“He’s able to take that step forwards, not backwards to make that pressure a bit higher. The way he connects with the three players up front, they play very direct and the way Liverpool is playing is the Jurgen way.”
Henderson is fully deserved of the credit he has received from the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man, who is spot on with his verdict of the midfielder.
The England international is the heartbeat of this Reds’ side, winning the ball back if his team loses it, and then being calm enough to recycle possession and start new attacks.
Last season, the 29-year-old made 1.4 tackles on average per game, whilst also averaging 54.4 passes from the middle of the park, with an impressive success rate of 87.2% – the highest percentage in any Premier League season he has completed at Liverpool [WhoScored].
Henderson is equally important off the pitch, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard having labelled him as the “ultimate professional” in an interview with the Times.
Alonso is right to single out Henderson, who has become more than an integral part of Klopp’s plans at Liverpool and is central to most of their success.
