Rio Ferdinand believes that Liverpool are really missing their captain Jordan Henderson at the moment, and has claimed that the midfielder is ‘undervalued’.
Ferdinand’s comments came in response to Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League.
The Reds put in a much improved performance than the one they displayed in their 4-1 loss to Napoli, and whilst it was not a perfect showing, Klopp would have been happy with how his side responded to last week’s defeat.
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However, it was evident that Liverpool’s defence still looked shaky, and Ajax were able to cut open the Merseyside club’s right hand side with ease in the build-up to their goal.
This is where the former Manchester United defender believes Liverpool were missing their captain, with Ferdinand stating that Henderson provides security for that same side of the Red’s defence.
“Jordan Henderson’s role in this team cannot be undervalued. You see moments on social media [people saying] ‘he’s getting a bit old Jordan Henderson’, [but] his role in this team was to protect that right-hand side."
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"He marshalled that right-hand side. As soon as anybody vacated that right side slot he would shuffle over there and he would be that security,” said the six-time Premier League winner.
“Anything that popped out, he would be there, they’ve lost that. They’ve added another dimension with Elliott and the way he interchanges and rotates with Salah and with Trent."
"But they’ve lost that bit of security, that little bit of steeliness, that honest running, honest positional sense to enable those guys to go forward on that side.”
Whilst the importance of Henderson’s role in this Liverpool side is undeniable, the Englishman is unlikely to be the sole answer to their defensive problems.
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The 32-year-old started in the Red’s defeat to United and their draw against Fulham, in which they looked shaky at the back on both occasions.
It has been a combination of a drop in form of Liverpool’s key defenders and a number of injuries that have been the cause of their woes, but Klopp will be hoping the reintroduction of his captain and improved performances from the likes of Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold will provide more stability in the defensive third.
Topics: Liverpool, Rio Ferdinand, Jordan Henderson