According to reports from the Daily Mail, Liverpool club-captain Jordan Henderson has come through two training sessions at Melwood and has been dubbed as ‘almost a certainty’ to be in the squad to face Atletico Madrid.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 18: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid v Liverpool at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Henderson, 29, was originally deemed as a doubt for the Anfield clash on Wednesday when the England international hobbled out of the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium last month.
The Liverpool skipper has missed all three of the Reds’ previous league matches as well as the FA Cup exit to Chelsea last week.
However, the former Sunderland star has made a significant recovery ahead of Liverpool’s do-or-die Champions League bout with the Spanish giants and could feature in the Champions League tie.
Liverpool’s medical staff have reportedly been cautious with Henderson who has been undergoing rehabilitation in the three weeks since his injury but has recently completed two first-team training session that could encourage Jurgen Klopp that the skipper is ready for the club’s biggest match of the season.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) Jordan Henderson of Liverpool FC, coach Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid v Liverpool at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
What RTK has to say
It goes without saying that there is even a one per cent likelihood of Henderson being ready to start then it is a risk that Klopp has to take.
Liverpool have looked worryingly disjointed in midfield since the Champions League-winning captain limped away from the Spanish capital in February.
Touted as the favourite for the PFA Player of the Year award, Liverpool will desperately require Henderson’s unwavering energy and leadership qualities when Diego Simeone’s team arrive looking to protect their 1-0 advantage.
Before Henderson’s injury, Liverpool had registered 10 clean sheets in their previous 11 league matches. In the absence of the Englishman, the Reds have shipped six league goals in three matches, have suffered defeats in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup and have failed to register one clean sheet.
Liverpool have only lost one match in the past year that Henderson has started (Napoli (A) 2019) and the midfield general has won every match – excluding Napoli – at Anfield he has started in since the Reds’ 1-1 stalemate with Leicester in January 2019.