Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher has weighed in on Jordan Henderson's controversial exit from Anfield, claiming the former Liverpool captain made a big mistake when he left the club to join Al-Ettifaq
Connor O'Neill Senior Sports Content Creator
15:07, 30 Apr 2026
Jamie Carragher has offered his opinion
Jamie Carragher has offered his opinion(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has told Jordan Henderson he squandered the chance to claim another Premier League trophy with Liverpool and erred in departing the club.
Henderson, who led the Reds to their Premier League title win in 2020, sent shockwaves through soccer nearly three years ago when he departed Anfield for Saudi Arabia, signing with Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. The 35-year-old attracted considerable condemnation for the switch to Al-Ettifaq in a nation where same-sex relationships are criminalized, and human rights concerns persist.
Also facing accusations of prioritizing financial gain, Henderson's Saudi stint lasted merely six months before he moved to Dutch side Ajax. Following an 18-month spell in Amsterdam, he returned to the Premier League this summer, linking up with Brentford.
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Carragher, though, reckons Henderson's decision to head to Saudi Arabia was a significant misstep; not only did he forfeit the opportunity to secure another title, but he could also have fulfilled the role Wataru Endo has occupied in recent campaigns.
Speaking on the 'Zac Djellab' podcast, the Kop icon said: "When I retired, and Steven Gerrard left the club, it was, 'Who is going to be Liverpool captain?' Liverpool fans were going nuts that Jordan Henderson was captain; I was defending him constantly.
"It was right that he was captain, a brilliant captain, been a brilliant player for Liverpool. I still don't think he should have left Liverpool; he should still be at Liverpool now.
Jordan Henderson quit Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp's team for Saudi Arabia
Jordan Henderson quit Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp's team for Saudi Arabia(Image: Getty Images)
"I think he made a big mistake leaving Liverpool, he missed out on another league title, obviously went to Saudi Arabia, Ajax and is at Brentford. He shouldn't have left Liverpool; it was a mistake. It was because Jurgen Klopp said he was bringing midfield players in, and he said he wasn't going to play every week.
"What Endo has done at Liverpool, Jordan Henderson is a better player; he could have done that, and he'd have picked another league title up. I think he made a big mistake there."
Toward the close of last year, Henderson confessed that the pain of his Anfield departure left him unable to watch his former side on television. He revealed: "It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool. I was there for a long period of time, 12 years.
"Leaving Liverpool itself was huge and really difficult, and at any point it was going to be hard because it had been my life for so long, and then it is just gone like that... so I have struggled for a period after that.
"No, I couldn't watch a lot of games. I certainly couldn't watch Liverpool. I didn't watch a lot of Premier League stuff then... probably picked the right place for that, I was halfway around the world!
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"Yeah, it was tough, but when you leave Liverpool because I was there for so long because I had such an attachment and I dedicated a large part of my life there, when I left I found it really difficult, and I suppose whatever I did or wherever I went...
"I don't know what it felt like; it felt like a break-up. It was just difficult, and I think if you asked a lot of players when they left a club, not just Liverpool, but when you have been at a club for so long, and you have that attachment to them, whether you retire or move on.
"I think for a period of time that was hard, but within time things change; you move on, but I would say that was probably the most difficult time."