Kop legend Mac backs Henderson to lift title
LIVERPOOL legend Terry McDermott reckons Jordan Henderson has a “hell of a chance’’ of being the Reds’ first league title-winning captain for nearly 30 years.
It was 1990 – shortly before Henderson was born – when the Kop last celebrated a top-flight crown, with Alan Hansen lifting the old First Division trophy.
But McDermott, who won virtually everything in his glittering Anfield career, sees Henderson as potentially the first Liverpool skipper to hold aloft the Premier League pot.
Jurgen Klopp’s side finished fourth last season and McDermott, 66, insists Henderson (below) has shown former boss Brendan Rodgers was wrong to tell the midfielder he could leave Liverpool a little over a year after he arrived.
Henderson stayed and McDermott, who was a dynamic midfielder with his home-city club, said: “I watch him every week and you know exactly what you’re going to get from him – he’s like a James Milner. He’s an eight or nine out of 10 every game.
“He’s proved what a good player he is against some good teams.
“Harry Kane was England captain this summer but it should have been Jordan. He does the job for his club and you know you can rely on him. He’s going to get better, I think.
“I remember Brendan Rodgers wanted him to go. He’s proved a lot of people wrong – not me, because I’ve always rated him.”
Kop boss Klopp, who led Liverpool to a Champions League Final defeat by Real Madrid last season, has committed himself to a near-£200m summer spending splurge in a bid to topple Manchester City from their Premier League perch.
Brazil keeper Alisson (£66.8m) is following compatriot and midfielder Fabinho (£43m), Guinea schemer Naby Keita (£52m) and Switzerland playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri (£13m).
And McDermott (above) said: “I think we’ve got a hell of a chance and I’m not just saying that because it’s Liverpool. They’ll be there or thereabouts. I can see them getting very close to Man City. Then you have Man United as well, who will improve.”
McDermott is also backing Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold to ultimately take over from Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier as England right-back.
“He’s an outstanding talent and he has it all in front of him,’’ said McDermott. “He’ll only get better as well. Trent will make his mark with Liverpool and England.’’