Jürgen Klopp believes Jordan Henderson’s football brain has equipped him to become the answer to Liverpool’s centre-back problems. The champions’ injury crisis mean they visit West Ham on Sunday without their three senior specialist central defenders – in the sidelined Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joël Matip – or the defensive midfielder Fabinho, who had been deputising at the back.
However, Henderson showed his versatility as a stand-in centre‑back in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Tottenham and helped Liverpool keep a clean sheet as an auxiliary defender in the stalemate with Manchester United two weeks ago. Fabinho could be back for next Sunday’s meeting with Manchester City but Henderson is likely to be the senior figure in a partnership with one of the rookies, Nat Phillips or Rhys Williams.
Until this season, Henderson’s only previous start at centre-back was in the Club World Cup semi‑final against Monterrey in December 2019 and Klopp feels his reinvention is all the more remarkable given the reigning Footballer of the Year was a box‑to‑box midfielder who then adapted to flourish in the holding role.
“He did really well,” Klopp said. “We should not forget that Hendo is a No 8. That makes it even more special. He is an 8 transformed into a 6 transformed into a 4. He can play all these positions.
“That shows how football smart Hendo is. His physical skills are obvious, but he is smart because they are completely different positions.”
Klopp thinks some clubs’ defensive midfielder is in effect a third centre-back but said: “We never played like this. That would make the transition really easy. We play with a 6 a different way. That is how it is.”
Henderson has used his passing range from the back, helping to set up Roberto Firmino’s opener against Spurs, and his manager is pleased that adds another dimension to Liverpool’s play.
“He played a good game against Tottenham and what makes it so exciting is that with his skills he can be very influential in our buildup as well, so that helps,” Klopp said. “He had a big hand in the first goal, nice little chip for Sadio [Mané] and then the square pass for Bobby.”
Henderson is set to make his 286th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, putting him behind Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypiä in the club’s history. Klopp bellowed with laughter when a questioner accidentally referred to him as Carragher. “Jamie Carragher and Jordan Henderson, that is a good sign,” he said. “A step up.”
One of Henderson’s midfield predecessors, Javier Mascherano, moved into defence for Barcelona and Klopp believes it is possible the 30-year-old could also become more of a centre-back.
“I wish he can have a say in which position he can finish his career, but thankfully for us centre-half is one of the positions he can play,” he said. “Hopefully he can stay fit. That is important if he wants to play to that age.”
