Henderson steps up to finally prove worth

Jordan Henderson has become a key part of the revolution going on at Liverpool under the eye of Brendan Rodgers.

It certainly didn’t look that way 12 months ago when the new Anfield manager was assessing the squad left behind by Kenny Dalglish.

Henderson was shaping up to be an expensive mistake.

Signed from Sunderland for £16m by Dalglish the previous summer, it seemed he would be jettisoned by Rodgers.

Andy Carroll, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing were all brought in for big fees around that time and have all since departed.

The club has written off around £40m on the three and it would have surprised no-one if Henderson had gone the same way.

He was initially overlooked by Rodgers but, as the year turned, he began to force his way into the side and, by the end, was a regular.

He was skipper of the England Under-21s during their disastrous European Championship campaign in Israel, but has returned to his club with his new-found confidence intact.

“I go into every year thinking that it’s my season,” he says.

“But this is a massive year for the club and for me personally.

“At the end of last year, I was in a good run of form and was more consistent in my performances.

“Hopefully, I can pick up where I left off.

“I’ve spoken to the manager from day one since he came in and he has improved my game,” he goes on.

“He told me what I needed to improve, and I felt as though I went away and did that.

“I feel I’m learning all the time in training and the manager has been brilliant in helping me do that.

“I didn’t play as much as I liked initially, but I still had conversations with him and he felt if I worked hard enough and did the things he said, that I could definitely get back in the team.

“He gave me opportunities in Europa League games and Capital One Cup games, and I made sure I took them to try to get into the first 11.”

Henderson will be tested on Sunday when Manchester United go to Anfield.

It’s always one of the most-explosive fixtures in the calendar and, if Rodgers names Henderson in the line-up, it will be confirmation that the player is now regarded as a vital member of a squad which the manager has been gradually restructuring.

“I do feel more comfortable now,” he adds.

“It takes a while to settle into a new club and playing with new players.

“It’s only once you’re here, you realise how big Liverpool is on a worldwide scale.

“It was definitely a shock at first, because the expectations of me were so high.

“Dealing with the pressure was the hardest thing when I first came, but you adapt.

“I never once doubted myself.

“I’m very confident in my own ability, and you learn from the players around you.”