Henderson looks the part as Klopp’s Captain Marvel

LISTED in the contents of the matchday programme was a little phrase that used to be part of Anfield’s lexicon but, in recent years, has disappeared. The title for pages six and seven was ‘Captain Marvel’ and once you flicked to it, you were greeted by an image that may yet come to symbolise Liverpool’s campaign. There was Jordan Henderson, roaring in delight as James Milner, Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino mobbed him. It was taken last Friday night at Southampton after Henderson had scored his first Liverpool goal since September 2017. This was undoubtedly a huge moment in the season and it was one that seemed to awaken a wider interest in the 28-year-old. This was the kind of goal, of course, that Steven Gerrard used to score. For the best part of 12 seasons, his performances demanded that the glowing phrase was wheeled out — so it felt significant that it was deemed appropriate for the words to be introduced here. Henderson, be sure, will feel uncomfortable with it. He has never once tried to mimic Gerrard in how he has gone about leading Liverpool. He is a

different kind of player with different qualities and wouldn’t have lasted six months in the role if he had gone about trying to emulate his mentor. What should not be overlooked, however, is the balance Henderson gives to Liverpool. His leadership and ability to unite the dressing room are critical but there is more to excelling for Jurgen Klopp than just being a firm voice and a big presence. Henderson had been asked by Klopp to do a very specific job on the field — shielding the back four, staying disciplined, being economical with his ball use. But the pair have spoken recently because the former Sunderland midfielder felt he could add an extra dimension to the team. Some used to say he was limited on the ball but anyone who saw his 30-minute cameo for England in Montenegro last month, when he threaded a pass to pick Raheem Sterling out, will know the claim is now risible. So here he was, entrusted with a spot on the right of Liverpool’s midfield and a licence to keep them on the front foot in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final against Porto. You could see from the opening exchanges that the responsibility enlivened him. Each time the ball arrived at his feet, it was popped away with pace to another red shirt — and always forward. Football, really, is a simple game and the efficiency with which he played contributed to Liverpool’s flying start. It is no exaggeration to say they could have had this wrapped up in half an hour. The pick of his work arrived in the 26th minute, when he received a ball from Roberto Firmino and, without hesitation, rolled a pass that sliced Porto’s defence and enabled Trent AlexanderArnold to dash in and provide a cross for Firmino to turn the ball beyond Iker Casillas. Henderson was then only millimetres away from providing an assist of his own, with a clipped ball to the back post. Sadio Mane dispatched it with a super finish but the Senegal forward had strayed fractionally offside. Put simply, Henderson was an influence from start to finish. There were other big performers, not least Naby Keita, but this was a success that had the skipper’s fingerprints all over it. He won’t want any platitudes, nor will he pay any attention to them. You can be clear, however, that the captain is flourishing. The phrase in the programme served notice of that.