Liverpool have started the new season looking determined to defend their Premier League title, with Jordan Henderson perhaps more so than most.
The Reds captain didn’t play a minute of pre-season as he recovered from an injury picked up at the end of the last campaign, but he went straight into the team for the 4-3 win over Leeds United on the opening day.
Henderson then also started the 2-0 win at Chelsea last Sunday as the Reds recorded back-to-back successes, and although he went off early in both games as he returns to full fitness he certainly had an impact.
At Chelsea, it was Henderson’s superb ball over the top which sent Sadio Mane clear just before half-time, with Blues defender Andreas Christensen hauling Mane down and rightly being sent off.
The Senegalese would go on to be Liverpool ’s hero with two goals in the second half, but it was perhaps Henderson’s pass which could be seen as the game’s decisive intervention.
And new footage of the moment shows that the Reds skipper was ahead of the game, as he can be heard telling Mane to make the inside run on Christensen, getting his teammate’s attention with a shout of “Sadio!” which booms around the empty Stamford Bridge stands.
Seconds later when goalkeeper Alisson catches a harmless looping header from Marcos Alonso, the Brazilian instantly throws the ball out to Henderson, and Mane makes the inside run his captain asked him to do.
Henderson plays the ball over the top of the defence, and the rest is history.
The Reds skipper was rested for Thursday’s 7-2 Carabao Cup third round victory at Lincoln City, but he won't be fit enough to face Arsenal on Monday.
Mane, Alisson and some of Liverpool’s other first-team stars will return to take on the Gunners.
Will Liverpool win the Premier League again? Have your say in the comments below
Sign up for the Mirror Football newsletter here
