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.”
