Club legend John Aldridge has voiced his belief that Jordan Henderson’s brilliant run of form emerged as a key factor following the acquisition of Virgil van Dijk by Liverpool FC in January 2018.
The Dutch international was signed by the Reds in a big-money move from Southampton and has completely changed the dynamics of the Liverpool FC backline in recent seasons, helping Jurgen Klopp’s side clinch Champions League and Premier League glory in successive years.
However, Liverpool FC skipper Jordan Henderson too has become one of the most important players in the first-team setup at Anfield, with the England international midfielder enjoying perhaps the best spell of his nine-year-long spell for the Anfield giants last season in the Premier League.
And Aldridge has heaped praise on the 30-year old’s ability on the pitch, even stating that had Henderson been involved in the game against Aston Villa a fortnight ago, Jurgen Klopp’s men might not have suffered the fate of a 7-2 loss at Villa Park.
The ex-Liverpool forward added that Van Dijk’s leadership traits convinced Henderson to improve upon his showings for the Reds as the armband could have passed on to the centre-back if such a requirement was felt to be made.
Writing for the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge said, “When Virgil van Dijk came to the club, everyone was saying he would go on to be the captain and Jordan’s not soft, he probably knew what people were thinking and that the big Dutchman was a threat to his hopes of keeping hold of the armband.
“But he upped his game as a captain, in the dressing room and on the pitch, and I really think he’s been a brilliant captain for Liverpool and deserves all the accolades which have come his way in recent times.
“When he’s on the pitch he’s always shouting orders, lifting and organising the players around him and if he’d have been playing at Aston Villa we would not have lost 7-2, without a doubt.”
