Liverpool have their sights set on the Premier League title, with less than two months remaining until the end of the season.
Arne Slot’s maiden year has been an incredible thing. Who foresaw this degree of success? Well, perhaps Jurgen Klopp, who always seemed convinced in his decision to leave at the end of the 2023/24 season, always knew he’d stretched his tenure as far as possible.
Klopp didn’t leave without first resculpting Anfield’s rusty midfield, driving the Reds toward one last slice of silverware with the German at the helm.
But changes needed to be made. That flagging midfield of 2022/23 was headed by Jordan Henderson, who, now 35, needed to leave.
However, he’s curiously back in the England set-up this month.
How Jordan Henderson's Liverpool career ended
When Liverpool dragged themselves over the line in May 2023, the Community Shield in the curtain-raiser was the only gleam of silver clinched by Klopp’s stuttering side. They finished fifth in the Premier League, ending a lengthy and illustrious affinity with the Champions League.
A summer clearout was on the cards, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner all departing at the end of their contracts, Roberto Firmino too.
Klopp was gearing up to strengthen the midfield, and Henderson has no assurances that he would be a starting member for the 2023/24 season.
However, Saudi Pro League moves for both Fabinho and the long-serving skipper were unexpected, and while Liverpool banked £52m and, in hindsight, prospered, it plunged a productive summer into uncertainty.
There comes a point when it’s time to move on, legs no longer working as they once did. The circumstances around Henderson’s sale may have been contentious, but the plain decision to depart was justifiable.
Now, Liverpool may need to cash in on their next version of the experienced England international.
Liverpool's new version of Henderson
It’s a sad thing when a player is no longer operating at their former level of brilliance, and that’s sadly the case for Andy Robertson, who at 31 has been all but exhausted after eight years of tireless service.
Robertson is still Liverpool’s starting left-back and on course to win his second Premier League title, but there’s no question he’s ebbing away, lacking the athleticism and zest he once wore so well. Broadcaster Nubaid Haroon has noted the Scottish star has been “struggling” for both club and country.
He certainly wasn’t at the races for his nation on Sunday, thrashed 3-0 by Greece in the Nations League after winning the first leg away from home 1-0. Withdrawn after 75 minutes, Robertson lost the ball 15 times and lacked the authority and energy needed to prevail.
Seemingly resigned to the fact he’s in decline, Robertson runs the risk of turning into Liverpool’s next version of Henderson, being a decorated stalwart who maintains impressive leadership skills yet lacks his one-time presence on the playing field.
Thomas Tuchel called Henderson up to his first Three Lions camp and featured him off the bench as a routine victory over Albania was achieved on Thursday evening. His experience and tactical nous were internally cited as reasons behind the decision as Tuchel establishes a new era, lays the foundations.
Likewise, Robertson is still a mainstay for Scotland. Indeed, he wears the armband in dark blue. But Robertson is also showing clear signs of wear and tear after so many unrelenting years in Liverpool’s system.
Just look at the differences between the current campaign and 2019/20, when Liverpool won the Premier League.
Matches (starts)
36 (34)
27 (24)
Goals
2
0
Assists
12
0
Touches*
93.8
65.3
Pass completion
84%
89%
Key passes*
1.7
1.3
Dribbles*
0.6
0.1
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
2.0
Clearances*
1.6
1.3
Duels (won)*
3.4 (51%)
1.8 (47%)
Errors
1
2
Less accurate and active in defensive situations and with a startling absence of attacking success, the 31-year-old is understandably one of sporting director Richard Hughes’ priority points heading into the transfer market.
There’s plenty of early noise around Liverpool’s interest in a new left-back, delineating Slot’s desire to enter the new season with Robertson relieved of his first-choice status.
The desire to sign Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is reminiscent of the Reds’ former pursuit of a new midfield cohort. It was clear that Alexis Mac Allister, for example, was on the club’s radar ahead of the transfer window.
While Liverpool hadn’t been expecting to cash in on Henderson at first, Slot will perhaps use that window as a reminder that sometimes it’s worth taking the leap of faith.
Robertson is Liverpool’s fourth-highest earner on £160k per week, and though he’s set to add a trophy to the haul this summer, the Tartan skipper isn’t really justifying such lofty earnings any longer.
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Perhaps he’ll stay on until his contract expires at the end of next term (which would surely spell the end for current deputy Kostas Tsimikas).
It’s important to remember that Liverpool signed Robertson from Hull City for just £8m – remarkably astute business – in 2017. He’s gone on to win the gamut, one of the standout full-backs of his generation.
In any case, Slot needs to axe Liverpool’s new version of Henderson, who is one of the most rousing captains of his generation but needed to leave when he did. Who can say FSG made the wrong call?
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