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da realsbet： Garth Crooks has criticised Jurgen Klopp’s treatment of Jordan Henderson, and has cited the German’s decision to relegate his captain to the bench as reason to slam the Liverpool boss.
The England international has started three of the Reds’ last six Premier League games amongst the subs, and wasn’t even in the squad for the recent trip to Fulham due to an ankle injury.
Despite being the club captain, Henderson has started just 16 league games, whilst making 11 appearances from the bench, and his celebration after scoring the game-winning goal against Southampton showed just how much being in the team means to him.
Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…
What did Crooks say?
Writing in his Team of the Week column, the BBC pundit said: “Captain fantastic took to the stage against Southampton and told Jurgen Klopp where he can stick his position on the bench.
“Jordan Henderson had every right to feel elated, having replaced Georginio Wijnaldum and then scored a goal to put the game well beyond the Saints.
“Personally, I think Henderson has been treated rather harshly with Klopp relegating him to substitute. But it may have just got that extra impetus out of him and taken Liverpool one step nearer to that elusive title.”
Does he have a point?
Despite appearing from the bench to basically win the game for the Reds against Southampton, it is difficult to find a space for Henderson in the starting eleven despite his obvious talent.
He proved against the Saints that he can make an impact further up the field, but Liverpool don’t tend to play with a centre-attacking midfielder – Roberto Firmino’s false nine position is preferred to this option.
In central-midfield and defensive-midfield, Klopp has the ever impressive Fabinho, as well as the vital cog that is Gini Wijnaldum, whilst he often rotates the remaining midfield position between James Milner, Adam Lallana and Henderson, with Naby Keita finally coming into his own too.
In this respect, it is difficult for the former Borussia Dortmund boss to incorporate Henderson into his team on a regular basis, especially seeing as the Sunderland academy graduate doesn’t offer the level of performance that he put in at St Mary’s on a more regular basis.
It is easy for Crooks to slam Klopp for not playing his skipper, but when you’re attempting to win the title and you’re in the Champions League quarter-finals, you have to rotate your squad from time to time.