LONDON • Jordan Henderson has emerged as the unexpected driving force in Liverpool's midfield after persuading Jurgen Klopp to grant him the freedom to roam.
The Englishman has spent most of his career as an unsung support act for more glamorous team-mates with Liverpool and England.
But the 28-year-old has won Klopp's trust so completely that he goes into today's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Porto firmly established as one of the key components of Liverpool's push for a European Cup and Premier League double.
Ever since joining Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011, Henderson had struggled to silence the critics.
Former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson once wrote in his autobiography that he opted not to sign Henderson because of the way he ran.
"We looked at Jordan Henderson a lot, but we noticed that he runs from his knees, with a straight back," Ferguson said.
"The modern footballer runs from his hips, and we thought this gait might cause him problems later in his career."
But the level-headed Henderson refused to be beaten down by Ferguson and others who wrote him off.
Impressing Klopp with his tactical discipline and relentless work ethic, Henderson has improved significantly since the German took charge at Anfield in 2015, earning the captain's armband.
But even with his place in Klopp's plans secure as a reliable defensive midfielder, Henderson remained restless for a bigger role in the team's attacking scheme.
Offered the chance to play in an advanced midfield berth during England's recent Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro, Henderson showcased his versatility with two terrific performances.
Emboldened by those displays, Henderson made a beeline for Klopp's office on his return to Liverpool's Melwood training ground and made his case to be used in the same role with the Reds.
Intriguingly, Klopp decided to bow to Henderson's request and the results have been a revelation.
He scored his first goal in 18 months in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Southampton on April 6, delivered a dynamic show in the 2-0 Champions League first-leg victory over Porto three days layer and then set up Sadio Mane's opener in Sunday's 2-0 success against Chelsea.
"From now on, all the time when players come into my office and ask for a different position, I will play them. It's brilliant," Klopp joked. "Actually we had that talk. He played the other positions when we had a need and played them really well.
"For the game against Porto, wow. So no problem. That is my job, to play the players in their strongest position.
"In the last three games he's obviously on fire."
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah believes Henderson's switch to a more attacking position has benefited the rest of the side.
"Hendo did a great job and it makes it easier for me. I think we do a good job together," he said.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
PORTO V LIVERPOOL
Singtel TV Ch112 & StarHub Ch2 13, tomorrow, 2.55am
SEVILLE • While other teams "have decisive players, we have the best in the world". Lionel Messi left the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan pitch with the praise of Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde ringing in his ears after notching his 50th career hat-trick to give the Catalan giants a commanding lead at the top of LaLiga.
Messi nets his 50th career hat trick !!! : soccer - reddit.com
Lionel Messi was short of fitness and Barcelona lacked spark as a goalless draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday offered fresh hope to their rivals in the title race. A thigh injury had limited Messi to 27 minutes against Real Madrid on Wednesday and while he played the full match at San Mames, Barca's assistant coach Jon Aspiazu had admitted
Barca give fresh hope to La Liga rivals after Bilbao stalemate
Football: Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought
Hazard leads tributes for departing Fabregas, Football News
Premier League: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's winning run ends after Manchester United rescue draw against Burnley Wednesday, 30 January 2019 * Man United fought back with late goals in 2-2 draw with Burnley * Burnley keeper Tom Heaton frustrated United * Paul Pogba's penalty reduced the deficit
United late show rescues draw as Solskjaer's winning run ends
Football: PSG thrash Dijon in first outing since Champions League nightmare PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain shook off their Champions League hangover and resumed their canter towards another French Ligue 1 football title on Tuesday (March 12), as they cruised to a 4-0 win in Dijon.
PSG Win in First Outing Since Champions League Nightmare
Harry Kane out until March with ankle injury. Kane sustained the injury to his left ankle in the closing moments of the 1-0 loss at Wembley and scans have now confirmed the extent of the problem.
Football: Spurs star Kane out until March with ankle injury
Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial both injured in Manchester United's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain Man Utd's Martial, Lingard to miss Chelsea, Liverpool matches : The Standard
Football: Man United's Martial, Lingard to miss Chelsea
Tottenham handed boost as Everton suffer double injury blow ahead of final Premier League clash. Marco Silva confirms two players will miss the trip to Spurs
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety. 12 Apr 2019. AFP / Adrian DENNIS Newcastle's Ayoze Perez heads the winner at Leicester.
Perez heads Newcastle towards safety - premierleague.com
Rafael Benítez fumes after Wolves deny Newcastle with stoppage-time equaliser. Another factor is that once Benitez departs - probably at the end of the season - we'll probably end up with
Latest NEWCASTLE | The Straits Times
Football: Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English Champions League final A police officer walking outside the Wanda Metropolitano stadium where the Champions League final will be held, on
Football: Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English
0 comments:
Post a Comment