Page TitleUEFA Super Cup in Istanbul, having played in front of Fabinho and
James Milner in the midfield starting-three; and then with the
FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar, having starred in central defence,
in the absence of the injured Virgil van Dijk, alongside Joe Gomez
against Monterrey in the semi-final, before showing characteristic
drive and determination in the middle of the park in the extra-time
victory over Flamengo.
Former Reds defender and matchday programme columnist
Gary Gillespie described him as “superb” in the back-four against
the Mexicans.
“In the ‘old’ days,” he added, “there was maybe a feeling
that Jordan just needed to have more belief in what he’s got
in his locker, and perhaps the captaincy weighed heavily on
his shoulders. But his performance levels now are consistently
outstanding and he’s willing to be a little more aggressive with his
passing.
“In short, Hendo does what Hendo does – and this Liverpool
team is all the better for it.”
That was in the programme for the Premier League fixture
against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday 29 December 2019
- already Henderson’s 350th appearance for the club.
By the time the Reds welcomed Manchester United to Anfield
three weeks later they were 16 points clear at the top of the table,
having made the best start to a league season in the history of the
big five European leagues.
“I’ve never liked the idea of any other club being a
benchmark for us,” wrote Hendo in his column, with a nod to
the traditional significance of the United fixture. “We should
never define ourselves by what others have done. For me,
Liverpool’s benchmark is Liverpool. We don’t need anyone else’s
achievements to drive us on.
“I want to be successful for Liverpool because of what it means
to our fans. Not because it means we can claim we’ve outdone
someone else, no matter how big the rivalry.”
He explained that “one of this team’s biggest strengths is that
we set our own standards and our own expectations. We don’t
need external motivation – it’s within us...
“When the gaffer says we don’t talk about records in our
dressing-room he’s spot-on. No one here is interested in anything
other than winning the next match. Because, in the here-and-
now, records are not important. The time for reflection will come
later.”
When it does, every Reds fan will be hoping that another
enduring image of Jordan Henderson with silverware in his hands- this time a rather large domestic trophy bedecked with red-and-
white ribbons – will have become part of Liverpool FC’s modern,
ongoing history.