“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”
– Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (Businessman, politician, and father of ex-US President John F. Kennedy) / Knute Rockne (Norwegian-American footballer)
Most of us have come across this famous quote at some point in our lives - in books, articles or even as a form of encouragement to lift up our sagging spirits. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson though is the perfect embodiment of this deceptively simple-looking proverb – he lives it.
The departure of Reds legend and former captain Steven Gerrard in the summer of 2015 to LA Galaxy saw Henderson being entrusted with the armband in July the same year.
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The midfielder, however, suffered a debilitating foot injury just a couple of games into the new season. A quick recovery was not on the cards as the then 25-year-old midfielder endured a season marred by injuries, pain, and lack of full fitness.
As a consequence, his importance to the team during the previous two seasons was easily forgotten and replaced by the cacophony of calls for the erstwhile captain to be put on the block come summer. It also laid bare the devastating trend in recent times, of short-lived fan memories and the quickness of judgement when it comes to writing off players.
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In this piece, we analyse why Henderson’s 2015/16 season should be seen as a one-off blip, offer a sneak peek into the past and provide a snapshot of what the future potentially holds in store for the Reds captain.
Stutter before the start: could he play?
Born to a policeman father and a fitness instructor mother, Henderson grew up in an environment surrounded by sport. He took to football quickly and also excelled at table tennis and badminton. Enrolled into the Sunderland academy from the age of 7, the local boy suffered from knee pain and disproportionate physical growth.
At 16, he was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatters - a growing pains condition which required extensive treatment. He survived the scares and worked extra hard to continue playing football and slowly built a reputation for himself in the Wearsiders’ academy.
Liverpool move and the transformation from boy to man
In the summer of 2011, Kenny Dalglish brought Jordan Henderson to Liverpool; the 21-year old made 37 league appearances and scored two goals in his debut season. With a change of guard at the club in 2012, Brendan Rodgers took over the reins from the Scotsman.
The former Swansea manager was willing to let Henderson go to Fulham as part of a swap deal for Clint Dempsey. Henderson though stayed put. In the player’s own words:
“It wasn't a nice thing to hear. I didn't want to go anywhere. I wasn't playing regularly and they gave me the option if I wanted to go. I told them: 'No, I don't want to, I want to keep fighting for my place.' I came to Liverpool wanting to stay here for the rest of my career. I certainly didn't want to leave after a year.”
That was a show of resilience – he chose ‘fight’ over ‘flight’. It wasn’t just about making idle choices, though. The youngster from the North East had to prove himself to the Northern Irishman and he did so with gusto.
Jordan worked extra hard in training, stayed back to practice some more and bought into the manager’s methods. His first Premier League start for Liverpool came in the November of the 2012/13 season; his work rate, athleticism and willingness to give everything for the team soon led to the midfielder becoming a regular starter under Rodgers from the turn of the year.
Henderson had won over his manager through sheer persistence; with 5 goals and 4 assists to boot, he had begun the process of winning over the fans as well. The young lad from the Stadium of Light had well and truly begun his Anfield journey as a man!
A vital cog in ‘that’ title run: 2013/14
Numerous accolades and the choicest of adjectives were bestowed upon Liverpool’s attack – with Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and then captain Steven Gerrard garnering most of the affection; even Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling’s contributions made headlines.
Amongst all of this, as the Liverpool blitzkrieg swept past opponents, one man went about his job quietly and with utmost efficiency – Jordan Henderson. He rarely made heads turn but his abundant energy in midfield covered Gerrard ably while his late, surging runs into the box helped score some crucial goals. Henderson did not shy away from a tackle either; he was a noteworthy contributor and threat all over the pitch and had 4 goals and 7 assists to show for his efforts.
On April 13, 2014, Liverpool hosted Manchester City at Anfield. In the dying minutes of extra time, Henderson made a lunging tackle on Samir Nasri and received the first red card of his career, effectively ruling him out for the next 3 fixtures.
Liverpool saw off Norwich successfully but crumbled at Anfield against Chelsea. While Gerrard’s slip may have triggered panic and caused the eventual loss to Chelsea, thereby ending the Reds’ title ambitions, some experts and pundits opined that Henderson was sorely missed in midfield.
“You know not the value of what you have until it is gone”, the wise said. It was true for Liverpool – their wheel’s key cog – Henderson – had come off a tad too soon.
A model professional
As the Reds mounted a title challenge in 2013/14, Henderson’s father was diagnosed with cancer in the neck and tongue. However, he informed the Reds player of his condition only just prior to the surgery so as not to affect his performances and concentration.
When Henderson came back from the time off, his influence was tangible as he picked up three Man of the Match awards, very much in line with his fathers’ wishes.
Henderson started 2014/15 pretty much from where he left off the season before – running, intercepting, tackling and creating. He improved overall as a midfielder and stood in as captain when Gerrard was on the bench.
He led by example and was a thorough professional; in April 2015, he rushed back to London overnight following the birth of his baby, to lead out Liverpool at Wembley in their FA Cup quarterfinal tie. It proved decisive as he provided the assist to the sole goal – a Coutinho match-winner.
Despite his contract talks stretching for a while, Henderson refused to discuss it publicly – a far cry from the showdown Raheem Sterling was having with the club at the time. The then vice-captain was calm and composed while assuring the supporters that it was only a question of “when” and not “if”.
Captaincy and comparisons with Steven Gerrard
The armband was passed on to Henderson as Steven Gerrard called time on his Reds playing days. Gerrard was half a world away in the US but that did not stop the comparisons from coming in thick and fast, and it was more than unfair to Henderson.
Steven Gerrard is a legend – a local lad with immense talent, a world-class footballer who devoted himself to playing at his boyhood club. The sooner fans accept that Gerrard is irreplaceable, the better. It will help them appreciate Henderson’s individuality and the qualities he brings to the team. Sure, he is not Stevie but then no one will be.
In fact, Gerrard has time and again endorsed Henderson as a captain and player; especially post the latter’s injury worries. In the predecessor’s own words:
“He (Henderson) is a fantastic professional who tries to lead by example in every training session and in every game. He can become a great captain for this club. He’s a fantastic player for me to hand the armband over to. I’ve got great respect for Jordan Henderson and I know everyone else at the club feels the same. He’s a true professional and a very strong character. Every day he’s in the gym doing extra work. He doesn’t drink and he looks after himself. He has made a lot of sacrifices to play well for this club.”
Injury nightmare: 2015/16
At the start of the 2015/16 season, the Reds captain was taking painkilling injections for a condition in his foot but suffered a heel injury in just the second league game. It kept him out of 3 matches during the course of which Liverpool earned one point. Upon return to training, Henderson broke a bone in his foot ruling him out for 6-8 weeks.
Liverpool had had a poor 2014/15 season; inconsistent performances and injuries to key players compounded Rodgers’ problems and eventually led to his sacking the following October (2015).
The arrival of a new manager in Jurgen Klopp only complicated things further for Henderson who was on the sidelines when the German took over. A metatarsal fracture ensured that the energetic midfielder did not return to the pitch until end-November; when he did return, he was still in pain from an incurable foot problem known as ‘plantar fasciitis’.
A torn knee ligament in April further saw Henderson miss out on crucial Europa League fixtures, including the tournament final.
Of his injury nightmare, Henderson had this to say: “......but there were times last season when I was very down because I wasn’t playing and I questioned my contribution as captain because of that.”
Henderson is his own harshest critic and there are times when he admittedly tried too hard. Needless to say, the sense of self-doubt affected his confidence and performances and he could not replicate the form of the prior seasons.
The captain made his fewest appearances in the league during the season – just 17 of them – and was frequently substituted in order to manage his injuries.
New manager, new role: A fresh start and time for resurrection?
Despite Henderson’s injuries and a section of the fan base calling for him to be axed, Klopp had completely different plans. Players who were written off by armchair experts and fan-pundits found a new lease of life under the gaffer.
The best example of a turnaround in fortune is the revitalisation of Adam Lallana’s fledgling Liverpool career, which was under threat of careening off-course when the German took over.
Henderson regained fitness only just before the Euros and joined Klopp’s team in preseason. It would suffice to say that the 2016/17 season did not exactly start off in blistering fashion for the Reds midfielder but Klopp retained faith in his captain.
What matters most to the German manager is the ability to put the team before the individual and work hard for its success, an attitude which Henderson has in abundance. Deployed in a newer role as a number 6 – a defensive midfielder, so to say – Henderson has adapted to the requirements of the team slowly and steadily.
He is growing into the role and impressed against reigning champions Leicester City at Anfield. His latest outing for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge saw him turn in a Man of the Match performance. Henderson was ubiquitous on the night – passing, tackling, intercepting and in between all that, scoring a screamer which clinched the 3 points for his team.
Following the 2-1 Liverpool win, Klopp had this to say about Henderson: “Jordan deserved that. The lad has had a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He's playing in a new role but he's getting better and better.”
Walking the talk: stats prove the captain’s form is on the upturn
It is just 5 games into the new season but Henderson’s form is on the rise as supported by the stats presented below:
Despite claims that he passes sideways or backwards, it is to be noted that 68% of Henderson’s passes are forward. The assists and chances have catching up to do as compared to his two impressive seasons in 2013/14 and 14/15, even with defensive duties added to his current role. This is because he has licence to make runs into the box and assist in creation.
Henderson has quite some way to go to reprise his benchmark seasons but gone are the dark days of last season’s dip.
Conclusion
The Reds’ German manager is experienced enough to understand the pressure and scrutiny a Liverpool captain is always subject to. However, with his guidance and coaching to complement Jordan’s exemplary attitude and work ethic, we can surely expect the Liverpool captain to go places. After all, Henderson has been proving his worth time and again to fans and detractors alike.
His importance, versatility, attitude, and commitment surely merit more than just a second shot at making a name at Liverpool; he deserves fans’ affections and trust – the captain has sacrificed a lot to get where he has. It is our turn to stick by him and prove that he will never walk alone.
