Jordan Henderson has said he could never match Steven Gerrard’s contribution to Liverpool despite captaining the club to a Premier League-era first title.
Henderson will become the first Liverpool captain to lift the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup when presented with the Premier League trophy in the last home game against Chelsea.
The 30-year-old has been instrumental in Liverpool’s rise under Jürgen Klopp on and off the field, and his influence vindicates Brendan Rodgers’ decision to make him Gerrard’s successor as captain in July 2015.
The England midfielder remains uncomfortable with comparisons to his predecessor and insists that his unique place in Liverpool’s history does not mean that the challenge of replacing Gerrard has been met.
“I said this when I first assumed the role of the captaincy, when people could have doubted me and criticized me as a person, but I will always say that no one will replace Steven Gerrard in this club, no matter who is the captain or what. team wins, “Henderson said.
“It was not on my mind when I assumed the captaincy to replace him; It was just to do the best I could for this club and this team, and that’s all I’m trying to do. “
Henderson spoke to Gerrard on Friday, when he marked his first full day as Premier League champion with a round of golf, and dedicated the club’s 19th league championship to the legend of Anfield, who suffered a dying near foul in 2014. .
“This is not just for us as players and for fans,” said Henderson. “It’s also for players like Stevie and Kenny [Dalglish] which mean a lot to this club. I know how much it means for Stevie to win the Premier League.
“I was devastated in 2014 because we couldn’t get past the line for him, but I know he is very happy and proud that this team can bring the Premier League trophy to Liverpool.” This one is pretty personal to me and doing it for him is pretty big. “
Liverpool will face the team they deposed as Premier League champions on Thursday when traveling to Manchester City. Henderson knows that Pep Guardiola’s team will be determined to regain the title next season, but he believes they will not be the only threat.
“United seem strong, Chelsea have signed some players recently and I am sure they will come again,” he said. “They have young players and Frank Lampard has done a very good job. City is an amazing team and you will have other teams knocking on the door and improving all the time.
The Fiver: sign up and receive our daily soccer email.
“That is why you have to keep wanting more and keep going. So far we have done really well after last year and winning the Champions League. It shouldn’t be any different next season. “
Liverpool will be without Joël Matip for the rest of the season after the defender suffered a foot injury at Everton in the first game of the restart. Matip, who missed several months earlier in the season due to a knee problem, worked tirelessly through the closure to regain his physical condition.
On Tuesday he confirmed his situation: “This season I will not return to the court, but for the next season, I hope to be a fairly early direct help for the team.”
.
