Liverpool’s 2-0 victory against Manchester United on Sunday was one of the most enthralling and emotionally encapsulating fixtures Anfield has witnessed this season. Despite dominating proceedings, the Reds notoriously left it late again to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 16 points – still having played a match less than all their title rivals.
The all-important second goal – converted by Mohamed Salah – sent Anfield into raptures. There was even another trademark goalkeeper run following a late winner against the old enemy as Alisson Becker – similarly to Pepe Reina in 2010 – sprinted the length of the field to congratulate his teammate following a special assist from the Reds shot-stopper.
The match was just as physically draining for the players as it was mentally for the supporters. However, one moment that epitomises the strain felt on the body following such a relentless performance was showcased when Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson fell to the floor in exhaustion once Salah saw the net bulge.
Henderson, 29, is the embodiment of Jurgen Klopp’s winning-machine. The club’s irreplaceable skipper selflessly runs himself int the ground week-in-week-out for the team and Sunday’s victory was no different.
The England international at first glance, looked like he was sobbing following such a landmark moment in the club’s season. As supporters became intoxicated in chants of ‘we’re gonna win the league’, Henderson had his face buried in the turf.
However, this wasn’t a moment of euphoria for Henderson more of the reality of exhaustion catching up with the midfielder following such an energy-sapping performance. He had put so much effort into this contest that he was emotionally and physically spent; nobody had done more in Jurgen Klopp’s team during the 90 minutes to secure victory 21 of this record-breaking campaign.
The toll this took on the opposition can be seen in the Inside United footage on the Liverpool Youtube channel. Henderson’s role in this campaign, especially, has been colossal. The former Sunderland man – joined the Reds for a fee of £20m in 2011 – is the beating heart of this squad, the standard-setter and the first to sacrifice himself for the team.
Henderson covered 11.49km against the Red Devils. He has been in that vein of form for the last 12 months and it’s particularly satisfying to see that such performances are meriting the ideal recognition.
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