Ever since Jordan Henderson was made Liverpool captain, the influence he once projected has waned. Niggling injuries have of course hampered Henderson’s playing time and style. The all-action displays of the title-chasing season under Brendan Rodgers have been replaced by muted cameos. These performances and the perceived lack of vocal leadership have brought into question the skipper’s very existence as a member of Liverpool’s playing staff.
Recent transfer links away from the club have spotlighted the quiet internal debate amongst Liverpool fans in regards to Henderson’s captaincy, and even his place as a starter. It is perhaps unfair to any player to have to follow in the legendary footsteps of Steven Gerrard. For over a decade the Anfield faithful had the pleasure to witness his greatness. Gerard’s status as a local hero and his frequent match-saving heroics have perhaps skewed Liverpool supporters’ expectancy as to what a club captain should be capable of.
Whoever took over the captaincy from Gerrard would be in an almost impossible position. To follow such a storied captain is an unenviable task. Henderson, to his credit, accepted the responsibility gamely. There is no doubt that he is a solid combative midfielder in his own right. It is also very obvious that his game has limitations in comparison. He will likely never match the solo achievements and the team success that Gerrard massively influenced in his time as a Red.
Most Liverpool fans accept this as Gerrard was an anomaly—once in a generation superstar player. What Liverpool fans expect, however, is a vocal and strong leader in the Emlyn Hughes or Graeme Souness model. Henderson has yet to convince the Kop of his suitability for this role.
Statistics on Henderson’s Liverpool career so far point to a steady but unspectacular return since he signed from Sunderland. His banner season so far came in 2013-14, when Liverpool almost clinched the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers.
Henderson looked a vital player alongside the veteran Gerrard in Liverpool’s engine room. Many Liverpool fans pointed to Henderson’s absence in the final few games as a major factor in not clinching the league title. Since then, the Rodgers era has waned and Jurgen Klopp has inherited not only his squad but also the captain he picked. The emergence of younger Reds like Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho, as inspirational players under Klopp, has overshadowed his captaincy.
Comparisons can be made about the emergence of a younger Steven Gerrard to challenge Sami Hyypia for the leadership of the team. That transition was made easier by the gracious acceptance by Hyypia to relinquishing the armband. Gerard Houllier’s decision not only elevated Gerrard to skipper, but it also allowed Hyypia to concentrate on his form and to enjoy some of the best footballing days of his career.
It would hardly be surprising for Klopp to consider stripping Henderson of the armband in the coming pre-season. The major question then would be, will Henderson accept such a decision with the aplomb that Hyypia showed?
Transfer dealings apart, the question of who will lead the team is a massively important decision. There is enough breathing space now between the Gerrard era and the encouraging potential of Klopp’s team rebuilding. The time to go with a fresh on-field leadership is now. Perhaps the most difficult navigation for Liverpool’s German coach will be to convince Henderson to accept the role of a team player rather than club skipper. Both parties could reap the rewards.
