FANS ARE FINALLY FLYING FLAG FOR SUCCESSOR TO CAPTAIN & LEGEND STEVIE
Sam rocks Forest
FOREST boss Sabri Lamouchi was left frustrated after his side blew a chance to close in on the top two and an automatic promotion place. Lewis Grabban put Forest in front with his 16th goal of the season in the 80th minute only for substitute Sam Baldock to level three minutes later.
It leaves Forest four points adrift of the top two. Joe Lolley had a cracking 20-yarder in the first half pushed round the post by keeper Rafael Cabral.
Forest went ahead when Grabban struck from close range following a Yuri Ribeiro cross. But Baldock levelled himself from close range despite the efforts of goalkeeper Brice Samba .
JORDAN HENDERSON was given the “unthankful job” of taking over from Steven Gerrard when handed the Liverpool captain’s armband in 2014.
But now he has become a Kop star in his own right and boss Jurgen Klopp believes he is finally getting the credit he deserves.
Henderson has not always been a favourite at Anfield with many questions over the midfielder since he signed in 2011.
But on Sunday for the first time there was a banner on the Kop with the England midfielder holding the European Cup aloft.
And he is playing a major role in the Reds running away with the Premier League this season as they head into tonight’s clash at Wolves 13 points clear of Manchester City with two games in hand.
Klopp never doubted Henderson’s quality from the moment he took charge in 2015.
He showed his brilliance in last season’s Champions League triumph and the £20million signing from Sunderland has gone up another level this term.
“The natural quality was always there,” said Klopp. “I knew
Hendo before I came here as a proper box-to-box player who can make the difference.
“Going back four-and-a-half years when I arrived here, it was the first year Hendo was captain after Steven Gerrard.
“As I’ve always said, it’s the most unthankful job in the world. People maybe needed to get used to that – that somebody who is not Steven Gerrard has the captain’s armband and didn’t get the credit he’d have deserved. But since I am here, Hendo has played
JORDAN HENDERSON AGE: 29
Signed for Liverpool: June 2011 from Sunderland (£20million) APPEARANCES: 353 GOALS: 26 WINS: DRAWS: 75 LOSSES: 73 HONOURS: League Cup 2012, Champions League 2019, European Super Cup 2019, FIFA Club World Cup 2019. 90 per cent of the games he was available, if not more.
“He was injured at the beginning when I came in, but when Hendo was available he played pretty much all the time, I think. For good reasons.
“That players in this age group develop should not be a surprise. He was 25 when I came here, it’s the best age to improve.
“You get used to things around you and now really concentrate on football, your development, your development as a team and what you can deliver. He is now calmer in situations. His selfawareness, self-confidence grew.”
But Klopp says the development of Henderson – and the squad – is far from finished. “He played an exceptional season last season,” said Klopp.“They were big steps. It’s not finished.” WOLVES (probable): Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Dendoncker; Doherty, Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Traore; Neto, Jimenez. LIVERPOOL (probable): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.