10 Jul 2023 18:47:51
What is everyone's opinion on the possibility of Henderson leaving? I am really on the fence with it. I still think he has something to offer, even if it is just on the bench, he is a great leader and dressing room presence - relying on him less could help his form. However, he has achieved everything he can at Liverpool and is on the wrong side of 30 so looking to move him on wouldn't be the worst thing.

1.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 19:05:39
He has been an excellent captain and an even better role model. From the clubs perspective money talks I guess, if a really good offer for a 30 plus player comes in I think they would take it and use the money to invest in a younger player. The squad still has bags of players with experience of winning things such as Mo, Ali, VVD and Trent. Time will tell, but he has been fantastic for us (given what we paid for him) .

2.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 18:57:53
I'm torn, I think he still has something to offer particularly off the pitch but we've not done particularly well in securing fees for those leaving the club so sometimes it is better to move someone on while you can still get a free for them. I'd rather not get dragged in to the debate of where he is going as I am relatively uneducated on the subject so seems naive of me to pass judgment.

3.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 19:10:26
I said on the other page that it would be poor, imo.
Especially as he's the club captain too.
Hope it doesn't happen though.

4.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 19:15:21
I would be surprised if Klopp deployed Mac and Szobo as the forward two in our midfield for say, the first half
Of the season. I could see hendo or Thiago playing opposite one or the other to help coach them through the games until they learned tactics, etc. for this reason I think he will stay.

5.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 19:31:20
He was a very good player and an exceptional leader and standard setter. If he leaves, I will be sad but will wish him the best of luck. We will miss him more off the pitch than on it.

6.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:02:12
Great question. Strap yourself in lads. This is going to be a long one.

First I want to define what I see Henderson is and brings at this stage of his career:

Leadership: There'll be some people who say this does not matter that greatly. My view is it matters a lot more than people think. He is the captain. He is a trusted and respected Leader. Leadership is not just about giving rousing speeches. Its about setting example in training. Its about setting standards. Its calling people out when standards are dropped. This latter point is where I think Hendo shines more than anyone else in our club due to the fact he has the uttermost respect of the players. I've seen Henderson call out Van Dijk, Salah, Allison - all our best and finest. I've never heard of there being player bust ups in the dressing room after with Hendo. No one is immune to him should standards slip. He demands high standards from EVERYBODY AT THE CLUB and because he is a respected leader, it does not cause rifts in the squad. In a sport where teamwork and dynamic is key, Henderson is super glue.

Less Minutes gets us the best version of Hendo: A squad needs a healthy mix of age. Some people are very ageist on this site. While I would want most of the squad sub 30, there is room for a couple over that age. I laugh when people think we should sell Salah. Madness. But anyway, back to Hendo. He is not a player that should or even can play week in week out 90 minutes anymore. With reduced minutes, I am absolutely convinced, we will see a Hendo close to his top quality. With a fresher body, he can give his absolute all (which we know he will) . Hendo has always risen to the challenge of competition. He was supposed to be sold from Liverpool, he ends up our captain. Geez, even the last World Cup, he was out of the team and by the end he was a mainstay. The man is a fighter. I'm 99% sure he will raise his game in the fewer minutes. There'll be games where the team is missing a spark. There's a lull. Its just not happening. Those are the games I would want Hendo on my bench. I'll tell you exactly what will happen. Within 30 seconds he will charge down the ball. he will bark at everyone. He is excellent off the bench. The new and dare I say it improved Milner. He still has a lot of quality and he only just turned 33 last month.

Versatility: he can play all the midfield roles and in a pinch could play the Arnold role if we stay with this setup. You are covering a lot of positions there with one player on your bench.

I guess I could have just said no but I prefer to give a long winded response with reasons. I would keep Hendo.

What is clear is we are at capacity in midfield really.
Fabinho, Thiago, Jones, Bajcetic, Hendo, Eilliot, Mac Allister and Szobozlai, potentially Arnold too. and Morton. That's a lot of players. The most obvious sell to me to make room for another player is Thiago. Not Hendo. Sell Thiago, purchase Lavia or similar and that's a fantastic job done on our midfield.

{Ed025's Note - good read that Davey...or is it Mrs Henderson?.. :)

7.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:04:48
Everyone’s time at liverpools comes to an end. He can walk away on a high or stay and be remembered as someone’s whose legs have gone. Personally I’d rather we cashed in on him but if he’s prepared to stay and play cup games and a few back up cameos I wouldn’t begrudge him that.

8.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:20:16
It's a 50/ 50 for me also like many of the above posts and posters. Equal number of positives and negatives for a potential departure.

I do think that he offers more off the field than he does on it, given the recruits we've signed already and with potentially more to come. But the point is, that if we hold on to him for another year in the hope that someone can adequately replace his leadership skills, what do you do if nobody appears in this coming year or the year after that? Milner situation revisited?

I remember Henderson was almost reluctantly pushed into his Captain position and he grew into it over the years. Maybe that's what we need to do now? He is leaving one day or another, after all.

9.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:26:20
Henderson's played 100 games in 2 years, just at club level. He also plays most games for England. And all that in a relatively high intensity role. That's knackered him. But I don't think it's permanent.

Whatever about England, he'd have been rested more playing for us if we'd actually had players who were good enough and fit enough that they could play instead of him once in a while. Guess what? Now we have those players.

Will he be automatic first choice every game next season with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the squad? No. Will he still play in a lot of games, including most of the big ones? I would think so.

I don't think there'll be a problem with his performance level, with a proper pre-season under his belt, and if he starts 25-30 and makes sub appearances in another 10. Instead of playing every week, and coming off the bench the few times he doesn't start, cos Keita was too busy daydreaming.

So tl;dr, I'd keep him. Thiago and Fabinho would be on the chopping block before him if we need to 'make room' in midfield. And unless Klopp tells him he's not wanted, or Al-Ettifaq are willing to come up with big money, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund haven't touched them as far as I know, I expect he's going nowhere.

10.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:35:53
Hendo’s PR team have played a blinder again.

11.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:43:03
We don’t have any players who are “priceless”.
Gerrard in the past.
Salah in the past.
Van Dijk in the past.

All our players have a price.

12.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:43:33
completely agree with that something red. good post.

and no Ed, there is no relationship between me and hendo. he said my love letters were creepy.

{Ed025's Note - love it Davey..

13.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 20:51:31
I wouldn’t want him gone, not this season anyway. Experience is necessary but just not a plethora of old players. He has a role to play, just on a lesser scale. If we are overplaying him then something hasn’t worked in our new midfield set up.

14.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 21:54:25
Keep Henderson for leadership and the Milner bit part role for now.

15.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 22:08:25
With Davey on this one. Hendo is going nowhere esp. after his vice capt and DR leader Milner got let go which was the right decision, IMO. Moving on two captains and giants of the DR would be poor squad management and I do not see any of that happening.

16.) 10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023 22:26:13
So captain of Liverpool football club the biggest team in the world (MY OPINION OF COURSE)

Wants to leave to play in Saudi for whoever

Not on your nelly for me

This man is needed more than ever to blood these newbies and youngsters in how to be the model professional and be a real captain

He stays too much change too quick is sometimes more damaging.

17.) 11 Jul 2023
11 Jul 2023 00:05:24
Being captain of Liverpool is the pinnacle of many players careers, especially if it involves a glut of trophies.
Given the adversity Henderson overcame to lift every worthwhile club trophy going I don't see him being in a hurry to give that up for a few more shekels.
It may be a stronger argument this time next season, especially if he's starting less often. He'll still have plenty of time to pad his bank account for a few seasons. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him around for a while yet.

18.) 11 Jul 2023
11 Jul 2023 01:57:03
Too much change in the midfield for me if we're letting Hendo go.

Have said it before, but many fans on here often think far too transactional about transfers. Probably the same people who sit on their moral high ground when it comes to talking about owners and player loyalty.

Henderson has plenty more in the tank and can play a key role in transitioning to the next version of ourselves. I can't see how having just Fabinho and THiago left as the experienced "Klopp midfielders" is going to be helpful for us next season. And in fact, I would go as far as to say we'd be setting ourselves up for failure again if we take this sledgehammer approach to the midfielder this summer.

19.) 11 Jul 2023
11 Jul 2023 06:52:54
Davey and something red. brilliant post. Completely agree.

20.) 11 Jul 2023
11 Jul 2023 12:01:35
Keep him here for 1 more season. Great example around the place no doubt and will help during some games and times of the year. Sell next year.