Stephen Warnock suggests Henderson could lose starting berth vs Tottenham

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has suggested club captain Jordan Henderson could miss out this weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.

The England international was left on the bench against Genk on Wednesday, with Jurgen Klopp selecting a midfield consisting of Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gini Wijnaldum.

Henderson featured in the last Premier League outing against Manchester United, but was largely ineffectual at Old Trafford and was hooked in the second half.

Arguably he was the biggest loser – if there could be any – from Liverpool’s win in Belgium, and Warnock has theorised how he could be dropped against Spurs.

He said: “If Tottenham play in a 3-5-2 shape then Klopp will want someone in midfield who can get between their lines to cause problems. You would think that someone would be Oxlade-Chamberlain – especially given the form he is in.

“I would expect [Georginio] Wijnaldum to come back into the team too and with Fabinho cemented in the side, that would mean no place for Liverpool’s captain, Henderson.”

TBR’s view – Henderson’s starting prospects have taken a hit

While Henderson – a £20 million signing from Sunderland in 2011 (BBC Sport) – will run through brick walls for Liverpool and is a great leader, he doesn’t quite have the creativity and incisiveness of some of the other midfielders.

He will undoubtedly be a huge player for the Reds once again this term, but perhaps the team can reach new heights by deploying an Oxlade-Chamberlain or a Naby Keita in the engine room instead.

Both of those players, plus Adam Lallana, have the skills to operate between the lines and help the front three all get back to top form, which is something fans will hope to see against Tottenham.