Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Chris Beesley

Jordan Henderson criticism annoys Liverpool team-mate

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has made a career out of proving people wrong and will continue to dumbfound the critics says his team-mate Adam Lallana.

Henderson wrote his way into Reds folklore as he became just their fifth skipper to lift the European Cup following Emlyn Hughes (1977, 1978); Phil Thompson (1981); Graeme Souness (1984) and Steven Gerrard (2005) on Saturday night as he steered his side to a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final in Madrid.

Despite the 28-year-old being one of manager Jurgen Klopp's most-trusted Lieutenants, Henderson's presence in the side seemingly continues to be questioned in many quarters, particularly by those whose vantage point is far away from Anfield.

His fellow midfielder Lallana seems irked by such brickbats though and believes that his skipper has now proved the doubters wrong.

He told the Press Association: “Listen, I don't know why there are questions there. It seems like always.

“He'll keep proving people wrong the rest of his career. It's what he does for a living.

“As footballers, we always do that because other people will always write stuff about us.

“But, listen, he's just lifted the sixth Champions League for the club and he's one of our best players this season.”

Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana of Liverpool with the Champions League trophy during the flight home from Madrid (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Henderson had to overcome internal rejection during his early years at Liverpool but has bounced back stronger than ever.

A Kenny Dalglish signing from his home city club of Sunderland in 2011, the following summer new manager Brendan Rodgers tried to send him to Fulham as a makeweight in an attempted deal to land USA international Clint Dempsey.

However, Henderson remained determined to prove himself at the Reds, stayed put and was eventually made captain by Rodgers in 2015 following Steven Gerrard's exit.

Lallana added: “I drive in with him most days. I see how selfless he is towards the group, how he puts other people first, never himself.

“No one sees that apart from our players inside.

“Everyone has the utmost respect for him so I couldn't be happier for him, really.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.