Jordan Henderson was the man who was overshadowed by a transfer fee that, to be blunt, nobody really knows. Some say £20 million whilst others state it was around £14-16 million. No matter what, when Liverpool signed this young Sunderland midfielder, they paid a premium for him.
His early days at Liverpool were frustrating, pushed out to the right wing purely because the boy could run and well, his crossing was decent. The plan to utilize Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll required someone to balance the right side of the pitch out and as such, Henderson was that man.
Jordan Henderson was offered in a make weight to sign Dempsey. Fulham apparently accepted such a deal but Jordan declined the move, opting to stay to fight for his place and prove he has a future at the club. In a time before my Bib Theorists days, I wrote a piece stating how Henderson would develop and how his abilities were not that of Gerrard or his number sake Alonso. I’m happy to say, many agreed whilst others did not. There were those who doubted Henderson and saw him as an expensive Englishmen from the dark days of Comolli and Dalglish’s transfer policy.
I believe we are seeing now, the benefits of time. Allowing a young player from a relatively mid-table to low table club (Sorry Sunderland fans) to settle and bed themselves in at a top club. Jordan has had to move house, get used to new methods of coaching, facilities, ideas and roles. He is a central midfielder, an engine and a box-to-box midfielder. Yet early on, used as a right-winger to make up for the lack of balance in a Liverpool side.
This season more than ever, Liverpool need Jordan Henderson. When he has been missing (rarely), we have noticed the tempo and pressing in midfield drop. Henderson is evolving into a future Liverpool captain in my opinion, he is much more vocal and dominant on the pitch, something that can be linked to confidence and a feeling of ‘I belong here’. His energy and tenacity has allowed Liverpool to score numerous goals on the counter attack in big games; Ozil, for example, for Coutinho’s Sturridge assist in the 5-1 demolition. Who else would have been pressing as high up as Jordan was there?
Henderson’s evolution has taken time and he will still develop further, especially his goal scoring ability. When Liverpool signed him in 2011, he had created 83 chances for Sunderland teammates, 39 more than anyone else. From central midfield! We chose to play him out of position and yes, he didn’t deliver performances that would have warranted his price tag and purchase but Jordan’s evolution has also come from playing in his natural position.
Liverpool have deployed Henderson in numerous positions since his move; right wing, central midfield, right back, left side of a front four and the number 10 role. It seems that this year it has really clicked that Jordan Henderson is a central midfielder and makes up for the lack of pace and legs that we do have in midfield when Gerrard and Lucas play.
This season so far, Henderson has completed 1,460 passes with a success rate exceeding 85% and also shown his defensive fortitude with 141 recoveries of possession, 44 tackles and won 73% of tackles/duels involved in. He’s created nearly as many chances as Gerrard with 49 (Gerrard has 52). We’re seeing Henderson develop into a player who can create goals and chances but also help out defensively and lead the side.
It goes unnoticed by many, but the amount of times that Henderson makes a nuisance run when Suarez-Sturridge-Sterling are combing is truly unreal. This is a run where he knows he’s not going to get the ball, he’s not there to do that. He’ll draw a man or cause an issue for a back line in having to track him and thus make space. He did this superbly against Spurs when we smashed them 5-0. Busting a gut to get up and down the pitch, when he could have watched events from afar. He deserves plaudits for his energy, commitment, grit and influence on this Liverpool side, for when he is not playing we miss him.
I’m not a person who likes to say “well, I have always liked him!” but it’s nice to see the doubters who initially wrote Henderson off change their mind on him. I have enjoyed watching Jordan grow into the player that I do believe will be the natural replacement to Gerrard as captain.
Rodgers commented after the Swansea game that getting Jordan into the box more is something that they’re working on, his finishing in training is fantastic but this does not always shine through in games. Henderson does lack composure in front of goal at times and should have more of them to his tally than he’s accumulated so far (3 League goals, 6 assists). This is an area of that I believe we’ll see develop further in time but appreciate just how good this 23 year old lad is. He’s got a decade ahead of him, perhaps more and I hope those years are in a red shirt.
Jordan Henderson isn’t a Xabi Alonso playmaker, nor is he going to be like Steven Gerrard in his career. Jordan Henderson will hopefully be able to make himself a player where in 10-15 years; we’re comparing others to him and saying, “I don’t think he’ll be as good as him”.
For now, let’s watch how his development take shape and for me, with Brendan Rodgers in his ear, I’m certain he’ll only get better and better.
