Scholes is wrong about ‘falling out’ with Klopp keeping Liverpool player out; there’s a far more likely reason

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Jordan Henderson’s absence in games this season almost certainly isn’t a rumoured ‘spat’. Liverpool are simply being clever.

Jordan Henderson didn’t start against Nottingham Forest. It’s not the first time that Jurgen Klopp has left him out of the Liverpool lineup this season, despite him obviously being fit.

This time, Henderson was out while Curtis Jones was in. That raised certain eyebrows and Paul Scholes openly wondered whether the captain has fallen out with Klopp.

“He has Jordan Henderson on the bench, he should be playing,” Scholes told Premier League Productions. “He is the leader of the team. He’s the captain and the one, the Casemiro type of role, and he gets everyone ticking around.

“He seems to have fallen out with him or carrying an injury. There is something not quite right there.”

That even led to an article from the Mirror pushing the idea – five more times Klopp fell out with someone. It’s a theory that’s gathering pace.

But there’s a far more likely reason.

Jordan Henderson’s absence

Henderson is not a player who stays fit for very long. It’s unfortunate but Liverpool can count on their captain to miss plenty of games each season.

That’s an extra-large concern this season. Not only are players needing to contribute over a full season as normal but there’s also a World Cup in the middle of it. They’ll go all-out in Qatar before returning to their clubs and doing the same over the business end of the campaign.

Thus it makes complete sense to be careful with players who may not be physically up to that task. We imagine that’s what Liverpool are actually doing with Henderson. They’re trying to use him as carefully as possible, knowing full well that he’s going to the World Cup with England. That tournament will take a lot out of him – and could jeopardise his fitness in 2023.

The only way to mitigate the impact is to give him as much rest as you can before the tournament. Liverpool, then, will have decided to keep Henderson fit for Ajax rather than Nottingham Forest.

Jumping to thoughts of a ‘spat’ with Klopp is ridiculous in comparison. It’s far more likely that Liverpool are being careful with their captain in a unique and difficult season.