Steven Gerrard has heaped praise on Jordan Henderson, saying Liverpool can’t do without players of his ilk.
Henderson is currently out injured, meaning the Reds will have to make do without their skipper for the next three weeks or so.
The 29-year-old has come of age in a Liverpool shirt, proving to be an influential leader who possesses quality in the middle of the park.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Gerrard opened up about his successor, lauding him as a player and saying his influence can often go unnoticed:
I appreciated Jordan’s power and fitness by training with him. Some players play for themselves, Jordan does the dirty running, grappling for second balls, 12 or 13km Saturday and Wednesday, again and again.
Teams can’t function at Liverpool’s level without a cog like Jordan Henderson. He’s obviously going to be a Premier League winner. I look at him and think: good for you.
He has that confidence now. He has lifted the European Cup above his head.
I don’t deserve one iota of credit, he has done it all himself, but I remember a chat with Jordan in LA a while ago and he wasn’t sure whether he was coming or going at the club.
I remember saying to him don’t give up on Liverpool, you’ll be fine. I knew what he had inside and that he would get there. You know with certain people.
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Gerrard is spot on in his assessment of Henderson – players like him can so often go under the radar, in terms of their overall importance. There are more talented players in Liverpool’s squad, without question, but few possess his never-say-die attitude and off-the-ball expertise.
He has dragged his side through some tough moments this season through his sheer will to win, such as against Wolves last month, when he scored and assisted at Molineux.
It will be interesting to see how Jurgen Klopp’s men fare without Henderson in the team, and whether or not him not being around further highlights his influence.
Liverpool have coped well without the likes of Alisson, Fabinho and Sadio Mane at times this season, however, so they should be able to thrive without the captain, too.
I would consider playing Naby Keita instead of Henderson, with the Guinean possessing to guile open up defences, averaging 2.3 key passes per game in the Champions League this season.
There is the option of using James Milner’s wealth of experience, however, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s dynamism is also a strong option. The 26-year-old’s tally of six goals this season is more than any other Liverpool midfielder.
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