This is all a bit sad really, I remember when Kuyt and Lucas used to get the same level of constant criticism irrelevant of how they or other players played and it made me feel both sad and disappointed that Liverpool fans could go over the top so much about their own players - especially ones who wear the badge with pride and just keep going and going - the sort of stuff we used to applaud and Shanks and Bob used to demand from the players.
Henderson last night was in the deep lying defensive midfield role - for years players have always been criticised when they played that role because they just see a player doing simple things , little sideways passes , keeping the game ticking over , recycling possession , moving players in front around until a gap appears but Henderson’s get nothing but constant criticism for it - someone said as captain they expect a thundering tackle or to smash it in from 30 yards and produce a bit of magic , all they are doing is just comparing to Gerrard - that’s not Henderson’s game it never has been so why should he be lamblasted when he doesn’t do it , he isn’t going to go on dazzling runs , play constant Xabi balls all over the place again it’s not his game.
In his time at the club he has played various roles - high attacking mid , wide right , sitting mid and done them all eight credit - in fact doesn’t get enough credit
All this talk about the worst mid in CL and the Prem and with him we aren’t good enough to win this and that is nonsense - we didn’t lose last light because Henderson played , if Last night there was 10 players playing superbly and one who didn’t then I could understand the finger pointing towards him but it clearly wasn’t - Salah , Firmino , Gini , Lovren , Gomez all played really poorly last - especially the front two , we weren’t going to create much but whenever we did they were poor , far worse than Henderson - don’t see many finger pointing there
People are quick to mention a pass he made when he should have passed to a different player as if it’s a crime
But here are three instances last night that get ignored
1. Shaqiri gave the ball away on the right hand side of their penalty area ( about the fourth time he did ) and Rabiot burst forward going past Keita and Robbo - he was pretty much clear until one person got to him and stopped them having a clear 3 on 1 - Henderson
2. We were passing around the right edge of the box and Henderson then played this lovely little ball into Robbo bursting into the box who then had his shot blocked
3. Salah put in another poor corner , it was cleared to Henderson who put it back in cleared again but this time to Neymar who burst forward with Mbappe and Cavani - one player sprinted back and got right in front of Neymar and stopped the attack -
Henderson did that all night , it’s not flashy , it doesn’t grab headlines , fans just moan at it but his fellow players and manager appreciates it because that’s the job he is in the team for - to do all that simple stuff , Fabinho isn’t in the team because he has struggled to do it , you aren’t going to put Kieta or Shaqiri there - it’s not their roles
Henderson isn’t a world beater - no one has suggested he is - but he is a key player for the manager and the players , come the game in Napoli I have no doubt he will be in the team - he maybe won’t have Milner next to him or Gini but Henderson will be sitting there in front of the back for doing what the manager wants - and I fully expect he will get the same criticism and that for me is pretty poor from the fanbase - we used to appreciate players like him over the years well before Internet forums
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