At the heart of this Liverpool team is a man with a burning passion for the club and an unwavering desire to push his team over the line.
There is no doubt that having Virgil van Dijk at the centre of Liverpool’s defence has helped in an abundance of ways to re-establish the Reds as one of the greats in world football, but having a captain who shares these same charismatic attributes is even better.
After last season’s Champions League heroics which saw Jordan Henderson lift Liverpool’s sixth European trophy and their first in 14 years, it almost seemed inevitable that the Liverpool captain would go from strength to strength and build upon what had been his most impressive campaign to date. As a result, Liverpool supporters have seen Henderson in the form of his career this season – making him a strong contender for PFA Player of the Year 2020.
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Given that the defending European champions have dominated the English league this season, it is no surprise that the contenders for the award are littered with Liverpool stars according to reports including Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk, with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne also being a favourite to win.
The former Sunderland man has made a total of 35 appearances for Liverpool this season – scoring 3, assisting 2 and captaining his team to an astonishing 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Although he might not score as often as De Bruyne who has netted 8 goals with 16 assists in the Premier League, Henderson has had an overwhelming impact on this Liverpool side which has embarked upon one of the most remarkable and record-breaking seasons in Premier League history.
Henderson has provided himself as a more versatile player for Jurgen Klopp this year – making 13 appearances as a defensive midfielder and once as a centre back against Monterrey in December. In the league, he has made a total of 55 tackles which is the highest of any Liverpool player and has achieved a pass completion rate of 85%. The England international has also made a number of standout performances throughout the campaign including his display against Manchester United in January which resulted in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory.
His absence was felt profoundly during a 16-day period in February after the England international suffered a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s first leg clash against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. During this time, Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup against Chelsea and lost their first league game of the season against Watford. When he returned in the second leg against Atletico Madrid on March 11, his sense of leadership pushed the Reds towards arguably one of the most complete performances of Jurgen Klopp’s entire reign at Liverpool despite the Reds losing the game 3-2.
It is this same sense of leadership and structure which has perhaps made Henderson such a strong contender for the award, to begin with – he is constantly pushing those around him to work harder and achieve greater things. Look at his reaction to Liverpool’s hard thought, 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur in January for example – his body language suggested that the Reds had just suffered a 1-0 defeat and were falling towards the relegation zone as he muttered “it’s not good enough” to Jurgen Klopp before heading down the tunnel.
It is clear that Henderson’s influence is also felt off the pitch and in the dressing room too. Even when he was sidelined in February, Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson stated in a post-match interview following their 3-2 victory over West Ham United that Hendo “was in the changing room before (the game) saying a few words and he was in there again afterwards” – making it known what he thought the Reds could improve upon as they looked to break down the Hammers.
It is clear that Jordan Henderson is no longer a scapegoat for Liverpool’s problems as he often was some five or six years ago, nor is he living in the shadow of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard before him. Instead, Henderson is leaving behind his own legacy at the club and looks set to secure his first Premier League title and possibly the most prestigious individual award in the league.
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