Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson has undergone successful surgery on the adductor injury he sustained during Liverpool‘s 2-0 defeat to rivals Everton. The midfielder is set for eight weeks on the sidelines. Following surgery, it has been confirmed via Liverpool’s official club website that the 30-year-old will be out until at least after the March international break.
Jordan Henderson’s Surgery a Success
Henderson Could Make Liverpool Return After International Break
While Liverpool will no doubt miss their influential leader, the news that the surgery was a success and they can expect to see Henderson play again this season will come as welcome news. It will also be a relief for England manager Gareth Southgate who will likely follow Henderson’s rehabilitation closely as he plans for the postponed Euro 2020 this summer.
Both, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp and Southgate will be desperate to see Henderson’s return to action, but there may well be a concern that Henderson will be rushed back as he is so important to his club and country. Henderson is a very effective centre midfielder but his biggest impact comes from his leadership and that is something that Liverpool will hugely miss in the coming weeks.
Liverpool Defensive Problems Grow Without Henderson
When Henderson limped off after half an hour of the Merseyside derby, Liverpool fans would have been forgiven for feeling a sense of Deja vu. Due to the club’s injury problems, Henderson had been playing at centre-back. At first, he was playing alongside fellow midfielder Fabinho and, more recently, new signing 20-year-old Ozan Kabak following Fabinho’s injury.
With Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip all long-term absentees, and now Henderson joining them on the sidelines, Liverpool’s defence is in a crisis. To try to address their problems defensively Liverpool signed Kabak from Schalke and Ben Davies from Preston North End in January.
However, it is clear that these were not Klopp’s first choice options and the club were trying to fix the issues on the cheap. Kabak has started Liverpool’s last two Premier League games, both ending in defeat, and has looked incredibly shaky at the centre of the defence. While 25-year-old Ben Davies has yet to feature for his new club.
While Kabak is perhaps one for the future, it is unclear where Ben Davies will ever fit into the Liverpool side. It may be that now, due to Henderson’s injury, Klopp has no choice but to utilise Davies. However, when Henderson trudged off against Everton Klopp favoured Nat Phillips to replace him.
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Big Decisions for Jurgen Klopp to Make
Nat Phillips has played seven games in the league for the Reds this season and has looked reasonably solid in this time. However, he is an old fashioned, rugged central defender who likes a physical battle and his shortcomings lie in his ability on the ball while in possession; a key factor in a Jurgen Klopp team.
Another option is Rhys Williams, who has played two Premier League games this season, however, Williams has looked nervous in his appearances to date. This is understandable given he has only recently turned 20 and is very inexperienced.
It may be that, for Liverpool to try to pull themselves out of the slump they are in, they will need to find a defensive pairing and stick to it, injury permitting. Given the business done in January, it may be that Klopp is best served utilising his two new recruits in Kabak and Davies as a pairing.
However, after Kabak’s dismal display against Everton, it would not be a surprise to see Phillips replace him and potentially Davies come in alongside him. What Klopp decides to do remains to be seen but if Liverpool, who currently sit sixth, have any chance of finishing in the top four they will need to find a defensive pairing that works.
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