Sky journalist shares what Steven Gerrard has been telling Jordan Henderson in private chat

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Steven Gerrard has promised Jordan Henderson the chance to learn from him as a coach if he leaves Liverpool for Al Ettifaq.

Henderson looks set to do the previously unthinkable and move from Anfield to Saudi Arabia this summer. The Reds captain will follow the man he succeeded in that role in joining Dammam side Al Ettifaq.

And according to Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy, Gerrard’s pitch has been absolutely crucial in convincing Henderson to end his 12-year stay at Liverpool.

“The allure will be that reunion with Steven Gerrard,” Reddy says. “Who would have appealed to Henderson’s desire to play regularly, would have appealed to Henderson’s ambition, saying, you know, ‘come over here, build something great with me, help me hit the heights I want to achieve, help me restore my coaching career.’

“I’m also told there might be an element of Gerrard saying ‘you’d be a player, but also you’d slowly learn to coach and manage alongside me.’ Gerrard will also have spoken to him about all the noise that he would have expected and that is currently emanating around this potential move. How to quell it, how he can still sustain his legacy and how people have short memories, things like that.

“Henderson has been so influenced and inspired by Gerrard, so it’s no shock really that the person who has been able to sway him and who we think has got him over the line in saying yes to this move is Gerrard.”

Gerrard poaches Henderson from Liverpool

For a generation of Liverpool fans, it will have been disappointing enough to see Gerrard take on the job at Al Ettifaq. He was once billed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield, but with this move in the bag, that feels a million miles away now.

But for him to then convince the current Reds skipper to follow him over there just compounds that feeling of betrayal.

Some won’t be bothered, of course. Henderson has been a divisive figure at times amongst the fan base and has already reportedly been told to expect less game time next season. Gerrard too hasn’t been at Liverpool for years now, and his decisions are nothing to do with the club.

For plenty though, this will sit deeply uncomfortably. The captain is essentially skulking off having played a big part in Liverpool’s worst season for some time. Instead of staying and fighting for his place, he’s choosing to jump ship and scurry out of the back door.

As for Stevie, it feels as though his ambitions to restore his coaching career could have taken a fatal wrong turn. If Henderson wants to nail his flag to that mast, then so be it. Good luck to him. Good luck to them both.

Once the feeling of shock and disappointment wears off though, Liverpool fans will surely be back to wishing both well. Whatever they do in their careers from here, Gerrard and Henderson are both assured of legendary status at Anfield.

We can understand why Stevie would want his old mate to help him find his feet in a new country and culture. What’s harder to get your head around is quite why Henderson would want to swap the captaincy at Anfield for all that.