OUR LEADERtrying to do until the very end of my career.
“Every time I take to the field I’ll be giving my all to help the
team achieve success.”
Fate can be cruel. Fifty-two minutes into that Bournemouth
game he left the field with a metatarsal fracture, to be replaced
by Emre Can, and did not return till the end of November. By
then there was a new man in charge.
“Jürgen Klopp has come in with his own ideas and a
particular way that he wants to play,” reflected the skipper in his
column for the Europa League group game against Rubin Kazan
on Thursday 22 October 2015.
“We saw some of that approach against Spurs on Saturday
[Klopp’s opener as Reds manager, a goalless draw in the capital],
particularly the way we started the game so quickly. I think it
almost caught them by surprise.
“While it would have been great to leave White Hart Lane with
the points and we felt with a little bit more luck we could have
won, it was still a decent result.
“Clearly the lads have dealt with everything that has
happened really well and already started to take on board what
the new boss wants. Naturally it will take some time until his
methods fully kick in. But so far it’s been positive and we believe
we can only get better from here.”
Clearly Henderson yearned to strike a ball for Klopp in anger.
“From my own point-of-view,” he continued, “not being able to
play recently due to injury has been hugely frustrating.
“I think this is the longest spell I’ve ever had on the sidelines. I
always want to help the team and not being able to play feels like
I’m unable to do my job properly.”
A further spell out with torn knee ligaments meant he was
limited to his lowest-ever number of appearances, 26 in total with
only 17 in the Premier League that 2015/16 season as Liverpool
settled for eighth position in the table.
There was an indication of what was to come in continental
competition as Klopp guided the Reds to the Europa League final,
with Jordan only just returned to fitness and watching the defeat
to Sevilla from the bench.
Season 2016/17 saw Liverpool finish fourth to qualify for the
Champions League, but another foot injury curtailed Henderson’s
season in February. He managed just the one goal, but what a
strike: a spectacular, eye-of-the-needle effort from 25 yards at
Chelsea in a 2-1 win.
In 2017/18 he made his highest number of appearances (41)
in three seasons, captained the side on a memorable run to the