Scott Groom urges Liverpool fans not to write Jordan Henderson off after Fabinho and Naby Keïta joined the club this summer.
The arrival of Fabinho and Naby Keita this summer have been major boosts for Liverpool, but their arrivals have also brought about a negative outlook among fans that mustn’t be forgotten or taken likely – and that is the importance of Club captain and leader, Jordan Henderson.
Henderson is one of the most maligned and heavily criticised players in recent Liverpool history but is a player who rarely deserves the negativity that is directed his way.
After another solid season for Liverpool despite his injury concerns, Henderson went to Russia as a vital part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad that came so close to bringing football home, and more importantly for Liverpool fans, put in some absolutely brilliant performances and proved that he was the right man for the deep-lying midfield role ahead of Eric Dier.
Liverpool looked lacking at times without Henderson’s influence over the past few seasons, and the former Sunderland man really grew and flourished under Jürgen Klopp’s tutelage. What’s more, Klopp clearly trusts his captain otherwise he would have taken the armband away from him before now.
It was inevitable that there was going to be some debate over Liverpool’s midfield due to their summer signings, but to simply write Henderson’s name on the subs bench week in week out is a little naïve.
If we delve into stats to compare Henderson to his midfield teammates over the period of their careers, you will find that he is up there with the rest of them.
Although both Keita and Fabinho average more tackles and interceptions per game than Henderson, he averages more than Milner, Gini and Chamberlain per 90 minutes in both areas.
As well as being combative in the middle, Henderson is also not shy of creating chances contrary to popular belief, averaging 1.3 key passes per game – the same amount as Naby Keita and worse only to James Milner. His pass completion is only bettered by Wijnaldum as well, so if we combine that with the creative, incisive passes Henderson is trying to play in comparison to Gini, you could argue that he is more influential.
He does lack a little in comparison to the rest in terms of successful dribbles per game, which is a lowly 0.4 per game – but that’s not his game, nor his style of play.
The point I’m trying to make is that people are leaving Henderson out of any kind of consideration for their ideal starting XI purely because new players have come in – but we mustn’t ignore the talent we already have at our disposal.
Henderson’s stats and performances show that he is more than just a squad player, and I think we’ll see him utilised as more than that this season, too.
Obviously, things become more difficult as all of Klopp’s midfielders look in great touch already this season, so competition for places is rife – and that’s with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the equation until next season realistically.
This is by no means a bad situation to be in for Liverpool fans, may I add. It’s something of a luxury we’ve rarely been afforded in recent times!
But simply throwing lots of new boys straight into the mix doesn’t always work, which is another reason as to why Henderson’s importance cannot be overlooked.
But failing all else, Henderson is the Club’s captain. He is the man that drives the team forward, unifies the squad and sets an example.
He’s a crucial cog in the wheel, and I think it’s rather disrespectful that people are willing to simply cast him to one side. Rarely do you find a man that embodies all of these things along with incredible stamina and athleticism that physically and mentally helps to keep pushing this team forward.
Trust the skipper.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
