Should Jurgen Klopp risk Jordan Henderson for Sunday's game against Manchester United?
Hendo is back in training after recently suffering a heel injury, but after only a couple of training sessions, he's hardly likely to be match fit, and according to Reds legend Jan Molby:
"I would not play Henderson at Old Trafford unless he’s 100% and there's no chance he’ll miss other games. Heel injuries can be nasty, and can return very quickly, so I wouldn’t throw him in too early".
When asked on Friday about Hendo's fitness levels, Klopp suggested that the Reds captain may play through the pain barrier:
"If he [Henderson] is available for the weekend it is only because of his attitude. There will be still pain, 100 per cent, but if anyone can cope with this it is him".
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see how playing through the pain barrier is either laudable or noble. Yes, it shows character, but in reality, it's incredibly stupid and irresponsible, and the manager of an elite football team should not (IMO) be encouraging it. Football should be about the team, not the individual, and playing someone when they're '100 per cent' in pain is all about the individual, and is (potentially) detrimental to the team.
That said, irrespective of his ongoing fitness issues, Liverpool fans are adamant that Henderson should play. I conducted a poll this week on the subject, and a whopping 79% of participating fans voted YES to the skipper starting the game.
In my view, Henderson should be on the bench, but with EmreCan't Can as the alternative, I certainly understand the clamour for Hendo's return.
* €35m-rated (CIES Football Observatory). Described by Steven Gerrard as 'excellent'.
Hendo is back in training after recently suffering a heel injury, but after only a couple of training sessions, he's hardly likely to be match fit, and according to Reds legend Jan Molby:
"I would not play Henderson at Old Trafford unless he’s 100% and there's no chance he’ll miss other games. Heel injuries can be nasty, and can return very quickly, so I wouldn’t throw him in too early".
When asked on Friday about Hendo's fitness levels, Klopp suggested that the Reds captain may play through the pain barrier:
"If he [Henderson] is available for the weekend it is only because of his attitude. There will be still pain, 100 per cent, but if anyone can cope with this it is him".
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see how playing through the pain barrier is either laudable or noble. Yes, it shows character, but in reality, it's incredibly stupid and irresponsible, and the manager of an elite football team should not (IMO) be encouraging it. Football should be about the team, not the individual, and playing someone when they're '100 per cent' in pain is all about the individual, and is (potentially) detrimental to the team.
That said, irrespective of his ongoing fitness issues, Liverpool fans are adamant that Henderson should play. I conducted a poll this week on the subject, and a whopping 79% of participating fans voted YES to the skipper starting the game.
In my view, Henderson should be on the bench, but with Emre
* €35m-rated (CIES Football Observatory). Described by Steven Gerrard as 'excellent'.
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