Is Jordan Henderson the real secret behind Liverpool’s rampaging form?

Jordan Henderson

As Liverpool sit, with nine games played, in the well-deserved position of joint-second place in the Premier League, it’s difficult to argue against the fact that Brendan Rodgers is doing a quietly impressive job of turning things around somewhat an Anfield.

There are various things that Rodgers has done well since taking over at the club – and plenty that he hasn’t – but perhaps the most impressive part of his management is something that few expected him to display: a clear open-mindedness.

This has manifested itself in a number of ways – for instance, his switch from an often toothless, possession-obsessed game to a riskier, more coldblooded counter-attacking one midway through last season – but the player who best represents this trait in Rodgers is one of this season’s quiet success stories: Jordan Henderson.

Rewind 14 months and Henderson was planted at the top of Rodgers’ ‘to be sold’ list, the manager eventually offering his midfielder to Fulham as part of the failed bid to sign Clint Dempsey. As things transpired – and through no desire of Rodgers’ – Dempsey ended up at Tottenham and Henderson ended up staying at Anfield, but with a manager’s favourite, Joe Allen, having already been brought in at significant cost, Henderson’s future as a Liverpool player looked bleak.

The Wearsider has spent the subsequent year-and-a-bit not only changing his manager’s mind but going on to become an important and hugely impressive cog in Rodgers’ new-look, high-pressing Liverpool side speaks volumes for both men. Credit, as is obvious, is due the way of the player – many others would not have shown such resilience – but also to the manager. His willingness to be proven wrong, and to accept and address his misjudgements is admirable.

With the first-choice midfield duo of Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard – controlling as they are at times – notably short of stamina and endurance, Henderson’s seemingly indefatigable work-rate, either at the apex or the base of the midfield triangle, has been vital to his side’s recent run of form.

Tackles Won

Saturday’s win over West Brom presented the most obvious case in point: though not easily quantified (he only made two actual tackles throughout the game), Henderson’s vitality and intelligent pressing was crucial in his side executing their game plan. His constant harrying and hurrying of West Brom’s deeper players led to Liverpool retrieving possession on numerous occasions, generally after rushed and under-thought distribution from the visiting side. For a player whose running style was the subject of bizarre recent criticism in Alex Ferguson’s latest book, Henderson is, well, very good at running round a lot.

In some ways, Rodgers’ recent switch to a 3-5-2 has proved ideal for Henderson, when he’s been able to occupy the ‘number 10’ position behind the front pair. He possesses both the intelligence and athleticism to know when to drop in and reinforce the engine room alongside his two other central midfielders, and when to plough forward and offer support to the strikers. Indeed, as with his above-detailed high pressing, his support for the forwards can come when the side are without possession as well as when they’re attacking.

The critical shortfall in his game though, and one that’s exacerbated when he plays in the role previously manned by Philippe Coutinho, is his lack of defence-splitting ingenuity – something of an irony, given that his initial purchase, along with Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam, was inspired by the club’s scouring of the previous season’s chance-creation rates across the division’s players.

Coutinho v Henderson Chances Created (Last Season)

As Henderson has matured, though, it has become increasingly apparent that creating chances doesn’t, in fact, come naturally to him; certainly not in the manner of someone like Coutinho. This is, however, somewhat negated at the moment by the fact that the two forwards playing ahead of him don’t need him to do so. Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are more than capable of fending for themselves when it comes to deconstructing defences, and so it could be argued that an energetic ball-winner is just as much use in Liverpool’s number 10 than a cute passer would be. That Liverpool plundered four goals (and hit the woodwork twice) on Saturday with Henderson only attempting one key pass all game gives credence to such an argument.

Jordan Henderson Passes v West Brom (83% Pass Accuracy)

In reality, it’s likely to be the case that, with Coutinho’s imminent return from injury, he and Henderson may share no.10 duties according to what the situation demands. At the Emirates next weekend, for example, Henderson’s leggy energy would seem a better fit to begin the game, while Coutinho’s lockpicking could be perfect for a late, result-deciding introduction. On the other hand, up against massed defences who come to Anfield looking for a point, the Brazilian’s vision and invention should be utilised from the beginning. It is, as the well-worn cliché goes, one of the better problems for a manager to face.

What can be certain, though is that Jordan Henderson’s recent exploits – first winning over a sceptical manager, and now performing at a level likely to keep last season’s brightest creative spark consigned to the bench – render the midfielder worthy of some long overdue acclaim. Within this narrative though, his manager’s role, as a persuadable and receptive judge of talent, should not be underestimated.