Liverpool supporters have been pretty upbeat in recent times after seeing their side record a tenth Premier League victory of the season on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their clash with high-flying Watford having won nine and drawn the other three of their opening 12 league games, sitting just two points adrift of Manchester City at the summit of the division. Yet the Reds continue to put the pressure on the defending champions as goals from Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Roberto Firmino sealed a 3-0 success for the Merseysiders at Vicarage Road, thus preserving their unbeaten start to the campaign.

As such, there have been many delighted Liverpudlians up and down the country in recent times, several of whom have taken to Twitter recently to express their satisfaction that captain Jordan Henderson will miss next weekend’s Merseyside derby through suspension, with one fan even describing it as a 'blessing'.

Yet those Liverpool fans celebrating their skipper’s absence are so very wrong indeed, as the England international is exactly the sort of player one would want in match of the magnitude of a local derby.

Yes, the 28-year-old maybe isn’t the most gifted of central midfielders in the Premier League, but there is a reason that Klopp has made him an integral part of his team in the last few years, at the same time continuing to select him as captain - and that’s because he’s an invaluable member of this team.

The Englishman is solid if unspectacular on the ball, albeit certainly does have the ability to make a telling pass to dissect opposition backlines, but it’s what the former Sunderland man offers off the ball, namely his intense pressing and ability to break up play and get Liverpool back on the ball, which is a hugely valuable part of Klopp’s side.

Yet he still isn’t universally loved by Liverpool fans, or indeed England fans for that matter, and the recent reaction to his suspension this weekend is another indication of that - but there is little doubting that the Reds will miss him on Sunday.

The 28-year-old knows exactly what it means to the supporters and indeed Liverpool as a whole to get one over on Everton, and his passion and drive in the middle of the park is exactly what supporters love to see in a derby clash - he’s the ideal man for a situation like that.

And against a Toffees side improving every week under Marco Silva, this has suddenly become a very tough game for Klopp’s side - they are going to have to be right on it from the first whistle if they are to stretch their unbeaten run against Everton to 18 matches.

And who better to lead from the front and by example than Henderson? After all, he produced a fine display against the Toffees in this fixture little under 12 months ago.

Thus, those Liverpool fans celebrating Henderson’s suspension are totally in the wrong - his absence will be a blow on Sunday, a 'blessing' those fans will be sincerely hoping doesn’t come back to bite their side.

Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!