Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is one the club's most improve players this season, but after his deserved red card against Man City last weekend, he'll be missing for Sunday's game with Norwich. Who should replace him, and will Hendo's absence really be that damaging for the LFC?
When it comes to replacing Hendo, it's a straight choice between Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva, and Anfield legend Jan Molby is convinced there's only one solution. He told the Liverpool Echo:
"Joe Allen is best replacement for Henderson.
"Allen is more comfortable with the pressing game and he’s up to speed at that tempo.
"You could play Lucas deeper but you need to keep Steven Gerrard in that holding role as his form has been that good".
Lucas is only recently back from injury, so it makes sense to play Allen, who is probably more match-fit at this moment in time. Plus, as Molby states, Allen is good at the pressing side of the game, which will be vital against a team struggling for their Premier League lives.
Jamie Redknapp insists that Liverpool will Henderson's 'bite' in midfield, but I'm not so sure. Hendo is having a solid season, but he's not really a consistent game-changer, and if - as Redknapp and others seem to suggest - his main contribution is a 'high energy pressing game', then Allen can cover that aspect fairly easily.
One thing LFC won't miss is Henderson's goal-creation. He has only 2 assists in the last 23 games for the club, which, with all due respect, is not good enough. Additionally, he is being outscored this season by Martin Skrtel (!), a central defender, and that is not the most flattering of stats.
Henderson is important to Liverpool, but he is not (IMO) indispensable, and next season, he needs serious competition for his place in a bid to improve his goals/assists ratio. To that end, I really want to see Rodgers sign a top-class attacking midfielder over the summer as it will hopefully put a fire under Henderson to make more of a specific, measurable attacking contribution.
Someone like, say, Ivan Rakitic would put the serious frighteners on Henderson, and that can only be a good thing.
Author: Jaimie K
When it comes to replacing Hendo, it's a straight choice between Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva, and Anfield legend Jan Molby is convinced there's only one solution. He told the Liverpool Echo:
"Joe Allen is best replacement for Henderson.
"Allen is more comfortable with the pressing game and he’s up to speed at that tempo.
"You could play Lucas deeper but you need to keep Steven Gerrard in that holding role as his form has been that good".
Lucas is only recently back from injury, so it makes sense to play Allen, who is probably more match-fit at this moment in time. Plus, as Molby states, Allen is good at the pressing side of the game, which will be vital against a team struggling for their Premier League lives.
Jamie Redknapp insists that Liverpool will Henderson's 'bite' in midfield, but I'm not so sure. Hendo is having a solid season, but he's not really a consistent game-changer, and if - as Redknapp and others seem to suggest - his main contribution is a 'high energy pressing game', then Allen can cover that aspect fairly easily.
One thing LFC won't miss is Henderson's goal-creation. He has only 2 assists in the last 23 games for the club, which, with all due respect, is not good enough. Additionally, he is being outscored this season by Martin Skrtel (!), a central defender, and that is not the most flattering of stats.
Henderson is important to Liverpool, but he is not (IMO) indispensable, and next season, he needs serious competition for his place in a bid to improve his goals/assists ratio. To that end, I really want to see Rodgers sign a top-class attacking midfielder over the summer as it will hopefully put a fire under Henderson to make more of a specific, measurable attacking contribution.
Someone like, say, Ivan Rakitic would put the serious frighteners on Henderson, and that can only be a good thing.
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Author: Jaimie K
Has Fabio Borini just won the league for Liverpool?!
ReplyDeletewhat a beauty by fabio borini btw
ReplyDeletethanks borini! what a cool penalty!!!
ReplyDeleteWas not such a bad idea to loan him out this season :-)
ReplyDeleteivanovic diving for a penalty lol
ReplyDeletechelsea fans leaving already thats why i love liverpool we stay till the end
ReplyDeletethank u sunderland
ReplyDeleteMourinho probably going to throw his toys now.
ReplyDeletehim and pelligrini i can hear it now ... well i thought
ReplyDeleteI think its safe to say now Miracles really DO happen
ReplyDeleteWE ARE CHAMPIONS.
Congrats SG8
Slow down...
ReplyDeletethere is simply no reason to slow it down. we can not not be champions. simple as that
ReplyDeletecome on man take it down please
ReplyDeleteNot Mourinho; it was his little pit ball nobody behind him that you need to watch! Digusting club
ReplyDeleteKoke would be great!! Hard working, technically better and scored big goals and has more assists than suarez this season.
ReplyDeleteThey've picked up some valuable points for us over the last two games
ReplyDeleteFabio...you beauty!!!!!! You can come back just for that!!!
ReplyDeleteOur secret weapon ;)
ReplyDeleteAgent Borini strikes again. Sunderland, oh Sunderland I love you.
ReplyDeleteAm I dreaming? If we win the league the this season I will buy a Borini shirt. I don't care if he leaves, I am buying that shirt!
ReplyDeletelet's give him the number 9 fully deserved
ReplyDeleteI think Sunderland have been excellent; really hope they can stay up.
ReplyDeleteAre we really only 4 games away from no more jokes about us not winning the league?
ReplyDeletecongratulations to mike riley hahaha jose mourinho
ReplyDeleteits happening its happening
ReplyDeletei hate to tempt fate but im bringing out my old Liverpool top from
ReplyDelete1990. IT NEARLY FITS. im not listening to the wife she says it does'nt
Sunderland...SUNDERLAND...gives the special one his first home defeat in 78 matches. I think the earth just cracked open a bit.
ReplyDeleteTake it deep breaths, take deep breaths. Calm down, calm down.
ReplyDeleteHa Ha
ReplyDeleteMourinho just gave the most childish, disgusting 30 second interview berating the ref. Absolute joke of a person. Absolutely pathetic. How old are you??
ReplyDeletehaha i know i know come on LFC
ReplyDeleteIf Sunderland can beat Chelski at Stamford...then Norwich can certainly trouble us in their park. They are fighting for their lives the same as Sunderland...everybody needs to focus like a laser on playing a cup final tomorrow...and not counting chickens before they're hatched.
ReplyDeleteNo...he hasn't...we have to win it...nobody else can do it for us. We simply must be in charge of our own destiny. To do that victory tomorrow is an absolute must.
ReplyDeleteThey've cracked big time. I still think we'll need to play the game of our lives next week! and this week! within touching distance now though.. Only 3 points will do tomorrow imo.
ReplyDeleteNobody is counting any chickens; just enjoying the moment
ReplyDeleteSorry...I think Siavash is already counting
ReplyDeleteLet's enjoy every minute of it. Grab the adrenaline a use it. Just flipping carry on doing what we've been doing and maybe we'll be sitting on that lofty perch again!
ReplyDeleteJust 4 things to say to Josie ' LOSER " "LOSER" "LOSER" "LOSER"
ReplyDeleteWe ARE going to win it ;-)
Of the two, I think Allen has shown the energy to run like Hendo. This I would go with Allen to not lose the pattern the lads are accustomed to. I would also go with Sterling in Sturridge's role and give Daniel a rest for Chelski next week. I think Tex can pick up Raheem's role and we're good.
ReplyDeleteHe is pathetic right? Just need another 'phantom' goal again next week to destroy his world. Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteAll Hail Agent Borini!!
ReplyDeleteBorini!
ReplyDeleteNo class
ReplyDeleteAnd Chelski had their reserve keeper - Ruddy is a different kettle of fish
ReplyDeleteThey won against City earlier in the season too didn't they?
ReplyDelete"Congratulations to Mike Dean, because he made a fantastic performance.
ReplyDelete"And congratulations to Mike Riley, because what they did during the season was fantastic for the way the championship is going.
"Congratulations to all of them - and I have nothing more to say."
Mourinho is surely becoming worse than Ferguson?
Well, if you take him at his word, it looks like he thought they called a great match. thanks Jose.
ReplyDeleteWhat's so wrong with Mourinho's comments? Refereeing standards are crap this season, so he has every right to have a go. His press conference is hilarious IMO.
ReplyDeletePlaying them each side of the Atletico games is hopefully going to be good for us.
ReplyDeleteWell everything is against Mourinho isn't it? It is a conspiracy!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think your a troll who thought it would be easier to set up his own site to go fishing. Mourinho is a massive bellend acting like a baby.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, and it's not like LFC fans have ever claimed there's a refereeing conspiracy against the Reds. No, that's not something LFC fans would ever do.
ReplyDeleteI haven't. Have you?
ReplyDeleteLFC fans have been bitching about refereeing conspiracies for the last couple of years, as well as moaning about alleged conspiracies against Luis Suarez by the media, referees, the FA etc.
ReplyDeleteTo suggest this is not the case is just disingenuous. The constant mewling about LFC conspiracies has almost entered cliche territory, but when other teams/managers have a go at refs, they're suddenly classless, and all the hypocritical fans come out of the woodwork to have a go.
But this has to do with Mourinho conceding that they will not win the League and he had to do it by going down in a blaze of glory by saying It is not his fault that Chelsea are not winning the league.
ReplyDeleteHe has made a complete and utter fool of himself.
I posted my reply but it has gone for moderation?
ReplyDeleteMy point is it's a vocal minority. Some fans are racist that doesn't mean you should suggest LFC supporters have that view. I'm not saying there are not those suggesting it just that I literally don't know anyone who honestly believes any of that. Most of my friends are reds (blues a minority in my group) and no one has ever said those things without it being tongue in cheek. Those who have said it are not getting Mourinho's money and are not afforded air time on national and international television either.
ReplyDeleteHow can someone be a hypocrite if they are not guilty of the same thing? Like I say, it's a minority who say it.
Having said that home bias in referees has been proven by a french study.
I loved that pic Ryan babel posted years ago of Webb wearing the manc shirt. Was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Molby and for all the same reasons too
ReplyDeleteWell he hasn't exactly hurt us - he's had more impact on our title chances than Aspas...
ReplyDeletePellegrini is a true gentleman. Always gracious. Has done great things at a number of clubs and never made a big deal about it. I like that man. I would have him managing LFC if BR wasn't doing such a flippin' brilliant job of it
ReplyDeleteBig difference though, we play to win and our strikers actually score
ReplyDeletetrue but as of recent he's been trying mind games against chelsea and liverpool so sorry
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more, they sicken me
ReplyDeleteHe helped
ReplyDeletegood points
ReplyDeleteRomulu
ReplyDeleteHenderson does not contribute a lot of goals and assists, but he makes key passes and is among top 3 at Liverpool. He's the the strongest link next to Gerrard and Suarez when we need the right pass to make a goal scoring opportunity. He has deffo succeded in the playmakers role in the Liverpool attack and it is a forgotten(undervaluated) quality than isn't mentioned in the stats. He knows where to put the ball so the next 3 steps of the attack can lead to a goal scoring opportunity and that is something he really excels in.
ReplyDeleteIf he keeps inproving at the same rate as he did over the last two seasons, in two years he'll be world class. He's Kuyt 2.0 but so much more intelligent. I've believed in him since he signed for Liverpool, becauses those touches of brilliance were already noticable at Sunderland, though not as often as this season and if there is a player with the same determition and drive to improve as Suarez or Gerrard, it's Henderson. I see him leading the Liverpool attack for many years to come, although I do agree that he needs competition and someone like Rakitic would be a welcome and proven competition to up his game even further. Rakitic is my main summer transfer target, because he offers so much in midfield, from holding midfielder to AM his stats over the last couple of season have been incredible and he'll probably be available on the cheap.
ReplyDeleteWickham was fantastic at Wednesday and now looks ready to match it with the big boys pity Sunderland arent likely to be in the EPL next season maybe Liverpool should make an enquiry.
ReplyDeletei just hope Moses is not a rogue agent ;)
ReplyDeleteI have seen you post "Romulu" more than once!!! Do you want Lukaku next season or what?
ReplyDeleteUntil today's game wasn't Skrtel also outscoring Sterling? I will agree however that Henderson's finishing needs a lot of work, he's let plenty of golden opportunities pass him by. And did I just see you compliment an aspect of Joe Allen's game?! Allen was damn good today, you're right times ten he really is frickin good at the pressing game.
ReplyDelete