SKIPPER’S BEEN THE REAL JOR DROPPER

RONNIE WHELAN insists Liverpool lose some of their X-factor when Jordan Henderson isn’t in the team.

And the six-time league winner reckons the Reds skipper (below) deserves to have further reason to celebrate once he holds aloft his first Premier League title.

“If you are asking me which Liverpool player gets player of the year it would have to be Jordan Henderson,” said the former Anfield midfielder.

“When he’s not in the team that same energy is just not there. I cannot think of anything that has a bigger influence on the team than Henderson.

“He is that important now. His passing is much better as is his understanding of what’s happening around him.

“And he doesn’t just react, he sees things before others.”

Whelan was part of the last Liverpool side to be crowned champions of England.

And that

30-year wait will come to an end, not today against Everton at Goodison Park, but soon, as they need just another six points from their remaining nine games to clinch a title that was sewn up before the

Covid-19 pandemic. The triumph will be just reward for Henderson, who fought to stay at Anfield when former boss Brendan Rodgers wanted to discard him prior to being replaced by Jurgen Klopp.

“When your confidence is low and the crowd is on your back it’s easy not to want the ball – and then when you get it you are afraid to do anything,” Whelan (above) said.

“But Henderson has shown character to keep believing in himself and become the player he is because he has had a lot of stick at Anfield and come through it all.

“He has been the standout player.”