Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson admits the midfield options Jurgen Klopp now has at his disposal are great for the manager. After being left out of the 4-1 Champions League win in Genk on Wednesday, England international Henderson was recalled to Liverpool’s starting XI for Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League victory against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Klopp started the former Sunderland star in his tried-and-tested trio of Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum despite many fans, particularly on social media, wanting the more attacking Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Naby Keita to play instead.
Henderson repaid the manager’s faith as he scored the equaliser in that win over Spurs, sparking the comeback that helped the Reds move six points clear at the top of the table after Manchester City had put the pressure on with Saturday’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Speaking about the strength and depth Liverpool have in midfield, the skipper says the competition for places is fantastic and that it can only be a good thing for Klopp, who is looking to deliver the club’s first Premier League title. “We have got a lot of good midfielders and we’ve got different players that can do different things,” he said. “I suppose that’s good for the manager because it’ll depend on certain games and certain teams that we’re playing and who fits that particular game. “But I feel as though we’re all performing to a high level, and we’ve just got to continue pushing each other in training and in games.”
Henderson has been criticised for not being creative enough and the statistics do appear to back this up, with the midfielder scoring just 26 times in 337 games for Liverpool.
But, Sunday’s goal, his first at Anfield since 2015, will help to appease fans and potentially ensure the 29-year-old keeps his place in the starting line-up for Saturday’s trip to Villa Park.
Klopp’s men are in EFL Cup action on Wednesday and the likes of Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain are expected to get some vital minutes.
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