There’s always been that one player at Liverpool that has symbolised an entire phase in the club’s history. Perhaps the most obvious example is Steven Gerrard. During his time as a player, Gerrard led the Reds to major trophies and he enjoyed a lot of success, and he’s now synonymous with the club. Others in the past, like Kenny Daglish and Jamie Carragher, have also enjoyed similar stardom, and that’s been duly deserved.
Over the last few years, though, that symbol has become Jordan Henderson. Though not the most popular Liverpool player, nor the most successful, Henderson is the leader of the team and the club captain, and that has made him more significant than anyone else.
He’s been at the heart of everything that Liverpool have done in recent weeks, and he was a focal point of Jurgen Klopp’s squad at Anfield.
However, that is beginning to change. Whilst Henderson does have a role to play at Anfield still, it’s hardly the role that he will have been dreaming of, nor is it the role that Steven Gerrard enjoyed at the club.
Despite signing a new deal this year, the Englishman’s long-term future at Liverpool is looking bleak.
After all, what role, exactly, does Henderson have in this team? He doesn’t possess the defensive capabilities to sit deeper and control the tempo of the game, and so that’s one position that he can’t play in. A lack of tackling ability doesn’t help, and whilst he’s good at pressuring players, that’s hardly enough to succeed in that role.
Perhaps he could be a deep-lying playmaker, then? Well, that’s where he often features, and he does fine there – but does he excel? Is he able to control games like, for example, Kevin De Bruyne at Man City or, rather, Philippe Coutinho at Barcelona? He’s not a natural number 8, that much is clear. He does have the legs and the energy to serve as a box-to-box midfielder, but it does seem like a bit of a waste of his talent to have a role like that.
Not to mention, considering Liverpool’s midfield depth, it’s hard to see an immediate role for Henderson. Fabinho and Naby Keita came in over the summer, and given the money that was spent on the pair, they’ll be looking to start every week. So, with just one spot left, the Reds have Gini Wijandlum, James Milner, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on their books. And that’s without considering Henderson himself. Is he really going to get a game against those more naturally suited options?
Granted, Jordan Henderson has been decent this season. In fact, he’s been pretty good. But the reality is that ‘pretty good’ doesn’t cut it at the highest level. A top team needs players that will inspire fans and teammates alike. When Toni Kroos or N’Golo Kante are selected, it’s easy to know what they’re going to be doing. In Henderson, though? That’s unclear.
He’s a useful player, but if the Liverpool captain is to really stake a name for himself, his future could lie away from Anfield.
Thoughts?
