* By Alessandro Schiavone
* 18 minutes ago
* 2 min read
Photo: Both Wikimedia Commons
**LONDON**\- Brentford finished 11th in the Championship the season Jordan Henderson proudly lifted Liverpool's sixth Champions League as captain in Madrid.
That night, the ex-Reds skipper played a pivotal role in helping his side end a 14-year wait for glory in Europe's most prestigious club tournament thanks to a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
That history-defining night for Liverpool happened on the 1st of June 2019. Just 27 days beforehand the Bees had ended their mediocre season with a 3-0 mauling of Preston North End at their old Griffin Park home.
Konsa, Maupay and Forss did the damage for the west Londoners that day.
It was 2019 and not even the most optimistic Brentford supporter could have envisaged a Premier League promotion two springs later. Let alone all the memories they created in the top-flight under Thomas Frank which included shock wins over Chelsea, Man City and Man United among others.
Five top-tier safeties later they have now secured themselves the services of a seasoned yet experienced serial winner like Henderson who fills the gap left behind by Arsenal-bound Christian Norgaard.
At almost 36, the midfielder's legs might be navigated but his wise head and tactical intelligence are just what dugout rookie Keith Andrews needs to carry on Thomas Frank's extraordinary work.
Having just missed out on the Eredivisie title with Ajax, Henderson could be the glue that holds the team together in what appears to be one of the club's most challenging Premier League campaigns in history bereft of Frank, Mark Flekken, Norgaard and potentially star man Bryan Mbeumo.
Yet if there's one player you want to go to war with in times of uncertainty it's Steven Gerrard's Anfield successor.
Needless to say, Henderson has never possessed Liverpool's GOAT's talents and perhaps always played well beyond his own natural ability.
But with the Premier League not being a place for faint hearts and uncertain minds, he will restore some confidence in the disheartened fan base by replacing Frank's leadership, aura and passion... on the pitch.