In a post-match interview following Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night (via liverpoolfc.com), Jurgen Klopp issued an update on Jordan Henderson’s injury when he said, “Hendo felt his hamstring, unfortunately. We have to wait. He was not too concerned but enough to go off obviously.”
The Reds skipper had to come off midway through the second half after sustaining a hamstring problem. Goal‘s Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones also shed some light on Henderson’s injury and made a post on Twitter which read, ‘Jordan Henderson limping quite badly as he comes through the mixed zone. “I’m not sure,” he says when asked how bad the hamstring issue is. #LFC‘
Should Liverpool Be Worried About Henderson’s Injury?
The sight of the in-form English playmaker coming off the pitch with an injury was a big concern for a lot of people associated with the Merseyside club. He has arguably been Liverpool’s best performer over the past couple of months and is currently the bookies’ favourite (6/4) to win the PFA Player of the Year award.
Henderson has helped his side dominate the midfield battles and maintain their unbeaten run in the Premier League. However, he struggled to hit top form last night away at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium where Liverpool enjoyed more possession of the ball but couldn’t get a single shot on target against a dogged Atletico defence. Klopp will keep his fingers crossed that his captain’s injury is not too serious so that he gets the opportunity to inspire a comeback in the crucial second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie versus Diego Simeone’s men next month.
What Makes The England International Such An Influential Member In Klopp’s First-Team?
The 29-year-old has featured in 34 matches for the European champions this term, scoring three goals while providing four assists in all competitions. Considering that Henderson has played the holding midfielder’s role for the major bulk of this campaign due to Fabinho’s lengthy injury absence, he has done remarkably well to improve his productivity going forward.
Defensively, the ex-Sunderland midfielder has averaged 2.2 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 0.7 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season (stats via whoscored). However, what the statistics do not show is Henderson’s incredible work-rate and leadership qualities that have made him such a fan-favourite at Anfield.
Can The Reds Cope With Henderson’s Injury Absence?
If he does end up missing a few matches due to injury, then there is no doubt that it will be a big blow for the Merseyside giants. At the same time, Klopp currently has most of his midfield options fit and available for selection. Therefore, he can rely on the likes of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Adam Lallana to fill the void left by Henderson’s absence at the heart of the Liverpool midfield.
With Fabinho’s defensive qualities and Georginio Wijnaldum’s outstanding work-rate also available in his midfield, Klopp should not have too many problems coping with the injury loss of his skipper. The 2019 FIFA Club World Cup champions have shown in the past that they are more than capable of grinding out wins even when they have been struck with injuries.
