Jordan Henderson has backed his former club Liverpool to return to form sooner rather than later after helping inspire Brentford to a 3-2 victory over the Reds
Jordan Henderson is interviewed by TNT Sports after helping Brentford pick up a 3-2 victory over his former club, Liverpool
Jordan Henderson is interviewed by TNT Sports after helping Brentford pick up a 3-2 victory over his former club, Liverpool
View Image
Jordan Henderson believes it is only a ‘matter of time’ before Liverpool return to form after helping inspire Brentford to a 3-2 victory over his former club. The England international was a standout performer for the Bees as they inflicted a fourth successive Premier League defeat on Arne Slot’s men.
The Reds fell behind early on after Dango Ouattara finished at the far post following a long throw, before Kevin Schade doubled Brentford’s lead late in the first half. Milos Kerkez would pull one back in stoppage-time, only for Igor Julio to extend Brentford’s lead from the penalty spot.
And while Mohamed Salah would halve the deficit again late on, Liverpool’s poor form continued as the reigning Premier League champions dropped to sixth in the table. Arne Slot’s men have not been at their best this season despite a £450m summer transfer spending spree, which saw them break the British transfer record twice, and have now lost five of their last six matches in all competitions
Author avatar
Author avatar
But despite their recent woes, Henderson insists his former club are still a world-class outfit and backed the Reds to turn things around.
“Liverpool are a world-class team with world-class players,” he told TNT Sports. "You look all over the pitch, there's not much to go at, they're all quality players. I don't really see a weakness in the team.
"Yes, I know there's been results of late that haven't been great for them but, for me, they're still top players and a top, top team and it's just a matter of time before they get in a rhythm and get going.
"I think there's been a lot of reasons why they haven't hit the heights from last year but they're still a world-class team and wherever you look on the pitch there's to players, so it's always going to be difficult.
“But the [Brentford] lads dug deep, stuck together and caused some problems on the counter.
"I thought from start to finish we stuck together. We knew it would be difficult at times. The way we defended together, the way we stayed composed on the ball and try to, rather than just kick it forward at times, it's trying to play the long ball in behind to someone running in, like Dams (Mikkel Damsgaard) did for Kev (Schade) on the second goal.
"And [Igor] Thiago was a threat all night and he’s been like that all season to be fair. We've got a lot of good players on the counter-attack with the front three. We've got people like Dams, Yarmo (Yehor Yarmolyuk) and the centre-halves who can pick passes as well.
"Overall, I think it was a really good performance and we deserved the win in the end."
Content Image
Content Image
Meanwhile, Saturday’s evening match marked the first time that Henderson had faced Liverpool since leaving the club in the summer of 2023.
The 35-year-old admitted it had been a strange experience to face the Reds, as he insisted he still wants to see his old club do well.
“I had been at Liverpool for so long,” he said. “It’s always deep inside me forever now as it was my life for 12 years.
“It was a little bit strange but as soon as the whistle went, it was business as usual and I was ready to go and I’d be in the right frame of mind, which I was.
“Once the whistle went, I was fully in and felt as good as I ever have. Of course (the reception I got meant a lot). I was there 12 years, dedicated a lot of my life to it. My kids were born there. It holds a special place in my heart.
“I still want Liverpool to do well – of course not when we’re playing them – but overall. That will never change.
“The fans have always been amazing. It was special to see a few of them, I know a few of them left a bit early because of the result. But it was nice to see them again.”