KEFAS BANGRIPGA
February 25, 2020.Jordan Henderson has been stung by un-deserved criticisms from some sections of Liverpool fan base in the past. He was subjected to these criticisms because of his inability to fill in the boots of Steven George Gerrard, one of Anfield ‘s favourite son.
Henderson was handed the armband in 2015 by Brendan Rodgers, immediately after Gerrard’s departure from the club. Captaining one of British most successful football club is not an easy task to undertake, as a result; a monumental burden of high expectations was placed on the shoulders of the young midfielder from Sunderland.
When Rodgers was sacked in October 2015 and Klopp appointed as Liverpool manager, many people thought that, the later was going to take the armband from Henderson and toss it to Coutinho or Millner, because they felt the Number 14 was not putting in the performance of an Anfield captain. The skipper was labeled as “mediocre captain “.
Jurgen Klopp’s decision to stick to Henderson as the captain of the club, was largely influenced by his(Henderson) : dedication, athleticism and discipline among other on and off field idiosyncrasies.
Today , Henderson has not only cemented his place on the team but has proven to be one of the secret behind Liverpool’s subjugation of the teams in EPL this season. His efficiency in long range and diagonal trajectory passes, his organisational skills and work rate are what give impetus to Liverpool ‘s game plan and the Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football (gen gen pressing) philosophy. Playing in what seems to be a free-role (when Fabinho is around) Henderson is the anchor man that oxygenates Liverpool defensive solidity by; disrupting the opponent ‘s attacking build ups, disbalancing the opponent ‘s counterattacks, and energetic runs to cover Annorld whenever he sprints forward to attack.Last night’s abysmal display from the midfield typifies the invaluable contributions of Henderson in the team. Fabinho and Wijnaldum were suffocated in the first half of the game by Declan Rice and Snodgrass in the premiere league encounter with Westham at Anfield. Liverpool midfield struggled to contain the pacy Westham players and game plan which saw them (Liverpool) trailed in the early second half of the game and had to come from behind to get the much needed 3 points, winning 3-2. Henderson would have brought stability in the midfield with his craftsmanship in maintaining possession which allows his team to reorganise and initiate an attack, when playing a pacy and physical teams like Westham.
Having bagged the; European Champions League trophy, the Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, Henderson is on course to lift the much coveted EPL trophy and bring it to Liverpool after 30 years of not winning it. This is a feat, that even his predecessor could not attained.
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Kefas Bangripga 