There’s a wall in a windowless room on the underside ground of the AXA Coaching Centre with a curtain. Don’t ask for the inside design quirk behind that — however behind it is a quote from a sure Jordan Henderson.
‘There isn’t a higher place to play than Liverpool,’ it says. And though he’s loving life at new membership Brentford, who play Liverpool as we speak, and in addition had an gratifying stint at Ajax final 12 months, former Reds captain Henderson could privately stand by that sentiment.
Arne Slot by no means labored with Henderson at Liverpool however the Reds boss will know simply how influential the 35-year-old was at Anfield, by advantage of seeing his quote up on the wall each day if nothing else.
Not that Slot wants reminding. He will get that each day when catching up with the information again house. The Dutch papers which he reads on his pill are continually operating items on how a lot Ajax are lacking Henderson’s management and on-pitch high quality.
Across the Liverpool camp, Slot is instructed each day how integral the Sunderland-born midfielder was to the trophy-laden Jurgen Klopp period – the one captain of this membership to elevate the entire Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup as skipper (plus the Membership World Cup).
To recap, Henderson left Liverpool underneath a cloud of negativity in July 2023. The backlash went additional than soccer after he was accused of turning his again on the LGBTQ+ neighborhood by transferring to Saudi Arabia. His stint there didn’t final lengthy however the response damage him.
Virgil van Dijk has been an ideal Liverpool captain, marrying old-school requirements with modern-day folks expertise
The centre again remains to be one of many most interesting round on the pitch too, and will likely be pivotal in turning across the Reds’ blip in type
Jordan Henderson was among the best captains in Liverpool’s historical past – and the one man to win the entire Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup as skipper
In footballing phrases, there have been worries his management was going to be an enormous miss, particularly given vice-captain James Milner and several other different skilled heads departed that summer time, similar to Fabinho and Roberto Firmino.
Who is aware of, perhaps it was missed barely as Liverpool’s title hopes fell away in 2023-24 thanks to simply three wins of their final eight league video games, as they completed third and 9 factors adrift of champions Manchester Metropolis.
However general, he has been succeeded by one other titanic skipper in Virgil van Dijk. The usual-setter and warrior-like defender was the primary participant compatriot Slot referred to as when he took over and he has been an ideal captain, marrying old-school requirements with modern-day folks expertise.
By way of classic Premier League-era skippers, Van Dijk is up there with the likes of Roy Keane, John Terry, Vincent Kompany or Patrick Vieira.
‘For me he has been essentially the most influential I’ve had since I’ve been a supervisor,’ mentioned Slot yesterday. ‘Virgil has completed what I anticipated of him. His personal performances. He has been a frontrunner all through my interval right here.
‘Each single day, I can see he’s the chief. If we begin a session I can at all times hear him. I couldn’t have requested extra from him in that position.’
Why is that this all of the sudden a problem on a random autumnal day, you ask. As a result of this week, Van Dijk earned his preserve as skipper by placing on a players-only assembly the place he and the squad went by way of some house truths after dropping 4 video games in a row for the primary time since 2014.
Van Dijk was named man of the match after Liverpool’s thumping 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek
He is aware of he has to assist everybody really feel cherished, particularly the perimeter gamers, and make the dressing room really feel like a cheerful place – even within the unhealthy occasions
He additionally spoke to some stars privately, similar to within the 4 hours they have been compelled to kill when their airplane to Frankfurt was delayed (they went again to the consolation of the AXA Coaching Centre) and on a espresso journey within the German metropolis on matchday.
He instructed the squad – which is youthful this 12 months than final after an enormous summer time outlay – to remain calm and block out all of the unfavourable noise. ‘Keep collectively, preserve targeted on the duty forward, attempt to enhance, preserve the boldness, embrace the second,’ was the gist of his speech.
It was described as a relaxed setting and positively not a ‘disaster assembly’. As Each day Mail Sport wrote on Monday, the response to defeat in opposition to Manchester United was calm not offended, although the group was feeling down. That’s not the case – all of them have a smile once more now.
Henderson was the last word position mannequin for Van Dijk as captain, who additionally discovered from Scott Brown at Celtic. Be the loudest voice on the coaching pitch, assist everybody really feel cherished, particularly the perimeter gamers, make the dressing room really feel like a cheerful place – even within the unhealthy occasions.
If it weren’t for Henderson and a textual content message he obtained when at Southampton, Van Dijk could by no means have ended up at Anfield. ‘I imagine we will obtain one thing particular within the subsequent few seasons,’ wrote the then-Liverpool midfielder.
‘We’ve got among the best managers on the earth and we have now nice gamers already within the squad. However the primary factor for me is the togetherness of the staff and the way a lot we have now improved. You’d have a big impact on this staff and assist us to develop into very profitable.’
Boss Arne Slot celebrates with Curtis Jones after his facet arrested their stoop in Germany
And Van Dijk wheels away after scoring Liverpool’s second objective on the evening, joined by Hugo Ekitike (proper)
There isn’t a doubt about whether or not or not the Dutchman fulfilled that final sentence. The entire dialog was persuasive, and sure one thing Van Dijk thought of when tempting gamers to signal for Liverpool this summer time.
Like Van Dijk at Southampton, Florian Wirtz had golf equipment queuing as much as signal him. So out got here the cellphone and, after a short chat, Wirtz was offered on the thought. Van Dijk’s salesmanship, management and intelligence will make for an excellent sporting director someday.
This week was a real check of his management traits – and he handed with flying colors. Sources near gamers have this week described the skipper as the type you’d go into battle for.
‘I don’t suppose it was like Virgil introduced them over and mentioned, “Any more we should play like this!”,’ mentioned Slot. ‘I encourage them to take accountability and speak to one another.
‘In the event that they do that when they’re within the sauna and swimming pool, however particularly if we have now a frontrunner like him (Van Dijk) with a lot respect within the group, then it’s a good factor.’
It might be mistaken to not point out the opposite leaders at Liverpool, similar to Andy Robertson, Alisson and Mohamed Salah – three role-models who’re good members of the senior group and have all helped elevate the temper in latest weeks.
Certainly, the Reds have 5 gamers who’re captains of their nationwide staff: Van Dijk (Netherlands), Robertson (Scotland), Salah (Egypt), Wataru Endo (Japan) and Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary), the latter particularly stepping up within the final two months.
Van Dijk referred to as a gamers’ assembly this week, encouraging his team-mates to remain collectively and preserve targeted on the duty forward
The Dutchman is an immensely fashionable determine with Liverpool followers, much more so after main them to the Premier League title final season
All of them instructed the group that somebody at all times is aware of higher on the skin – they usually should block out that noise. ‘This can flip,’ Szoboszlai mentioned. ‘For those who work onerous and preserve going, luck will come in your facet.’
Robertson has not bothered texting Henderson any jibes earlier than the Brentford match as he is aware of the uber-focused Bees star won’t reply. Good mates, certain, however Henderson is an enemy for 90 minutes this weekend and can give his all to win.
Henderson, who has just lately returned to the England fold underneath Thomas Tuchel, flew over from Amsterdam and was sitting within the posh seats at Anfield as his successor Van Dijk led Liverpool over the road to the Premier League title final April.
Soccer followers at all times need to evaluate gamers however on Saturday, two of this membership’s finest-ever captains will lock horns. Van Dijk’s job this week has been simply as massive as Slot’s because the Dutch duo attempt to get better Liverpool’s season, which had been sliding in direction of disaster. Henderson will likely be proud.
