Liverpool would not have enjoyed their recent Premier League and Champions League successes without the impact of Reds skipper Jordan Henderson.
That is according to former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli, who brought Henderson to Anfield in 2011 in a reported £20m move from Sunderland.
Henderson initially struggled to establish himself in the first team at Liverpool and was on the chopping block under former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
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The 31-year-old midfielder was linked with a move to Fulham in 2012 as part of a swap deal for Clint Dempsey, but Henderson rejected a move away from Anfield.
Henderson, who has made 429 appearances for Liverpool, defied his critics and went on to eventually replace Reds icon Steven Gerrard as club captain in 2015.
The England international has remained a crucial first-team player under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, with Henderson lifting both the Champions League title and Premier League trophy as captain.
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Comolli, who was Liverpool director of football from 2010 to 2012, has now claimed that he was convinced Henderson would overcome his initial woes at Anfield.
Speaking to So Foot magazine, he said: “I was even told that it was a huge mistake, but when you recruit a young player, you have to wait.
“Jordan was going to break through, that was for sure. [...] I can assure you that without him they won’t win the Champions League or the Premier League. I am 100 [per cent] convinced of it.”
Henderson, who is under contract with Liverpool until 2025, was hit with multiple injuries last season and played only 28 matches across all competitions.
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However, the England midfielder has played a more prominent role for Liverpool this season and has managed 37 appearances across all competitions.
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Klopp has insisted that he is “relaxed” over the situation surrounding Henderson’s Liverpool future and has urged fans not to worry about a new contract.
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“I know what’s going on behind the scenes and am relaxed,” the Liverpool manager told Sky Sports last October.
“We don’t talk about these kinds of things and we cannot make exemptions for one specific case.
“The one thing I can say is nobody has to worry. Things will go their way and be handled like they should be.
“That’s all I can give you as news but if I’m relaxed about this, then you can imagine it’s going in the right direction.”
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, England, Football, Champions League, Jordan Henderson
Adnan Riaz