It’s safe to say that Jurgen Klopp doesn’t appreciate the question marks around Jordan Henderson’s future.
Many fans jumped to conclusions after the Liverpool manager dropped his captain for the Reds’ 7-0 drubbing of Spartak Moscow in their final Champions League group game.
Suggestions had been made that Henderson had fallen out of favour with Klopp and that his days at Anfield might be numbered as Emre Can, Georginio Wijnaldum and Philippe Coutinho made up the midfield that started on Wednesday evening.
Coutinho took the captain’s armband as Henderson remained an unused substitute for the game which saw Liverpool finish top of Group E but Klopp has assured the media that one game on the bench for his captain does not mean that his time at the club has come to an end.
And, in his typical passionate style, Klopp couldn’t help but get a bit sweary as he insisted that he was keeping Henderson fresh for Sunday’s Merseyside derby.
“I’m not sure if it’s English or old-fashioned or whatever but even a captain cannot play all the time,” said Klopp. “You can’t bring him just because of the armband.
“You need players on the pitch to be 100 per cent for the derby.
“I made the decision for last week and I only spoke about it because I knew people will find out and make a shit story out of it.
“They are shit stories, I cannot change that, tell me another word for it. He’s such an important player for us so I don’t get why I have to say that.
“Being the skipper of Liverpool is the hardest job in world football because the man that came before him is Steven Gerrard.”
