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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has defended Jordan Henderson amid calls the club captain should be sold.
The Reds are in dire form. They have picked up just a single point in their past four games, scoring one goal and conceding nine in the process.
Liverpool are yet to have even tasted a league victory in 2023, with their last Premier League win having come against Leicester City on December 30.
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In turn, last season’s Champions League finalists are tenth in the table, some 11 points adrift of the top four, and 21 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
The Anfield club’s poor form has been partly down to the uncharacteristically poor performances of midfield trio Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, and Henderson.
Indeed, the latter in particular has been under scrutiny as fans look for someone to inject urgency back into Liverpool’s play.
Klopp defends Henderson
Klopp insisted Henderson was not Liverpool's “problem”, and claimed the England midfielder would be missed should he drop out of the team.
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Speaking in his press conference, the German said: “Hendo is not a problem. He never was and never will be. If he is ready and in good shape he plays 98% of games or something like that.
“He played as he’s a very, very important player for us. No other reason. When he’s not playing, you miss him. Easy as that.
“I don’t understand why we talk about one player. Everyone knows how much I respect him but it’s not about one player. Henderson is not our problem, he never was and never will be.”
Hamann’s dig at Henderson
On Wednesday former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann said Henderson should be sold, alongside Thiago, Fabinho and James Milner.
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Hamann told the Liverpool Echo: “Fabinho has been off-colour, and he’s really been the linchpin of that team. Jordan Henderson is in and out of the team, James Milner is coming to the end of his career, and Curtis Jones hasn’t really progressed.
“So if you ask me out of all these players, who would I like to see at the club next season? I would say that I would keep the young ones because you have to give them the chance to improve or progress.
“If you look at the midfield, how many of those players would get into the squad of some of the top four teams?
“Arsenal, Newcastle, even Manchester United – how many of these players would get into their squad? I’m not sure there would be too many.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Football, Transfers, Liverpool, Jordan Henderson, Jurgen Klopp, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, James Milner