Liverpool vs Bayern Munich: Everyone’s going mental for Jordan Henderson

Everyone is going mental for Jordan Henderson as the Liverpool captain played an outstanding role in their Champions League game against Bayern Munich.

Henderson tends to split opinion among the Reds, but against Bayern he was outstanding in his role as a disruptor, distributor and all round football legend.

The Germans failed to get a single shot on target and part of that has to be down to the shift that Henderson put in all night, and it’s telling that Jurgen Klopp decided to keep him on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.

Naby Keita may have stolen the headlines for his twinkled toed exploits, but it was Henderson who ran the show in midfield. With four tackles, three successful aerial duels and 58 completed passes the England international proved he belongs at the top of the game.

In a game that was characterised by a slight lack of sharpness as Sadio Mane and Joel Matip missed good chances to score, it was Henderson who kept the team driving forward.

He was also on hand to mop up if his teammates lost the ball in their attempt to break the deadlock. All in all it was an excellent performance from the former Sunderland man, who will be keen to take that form into the game against Manchester United on the weekend.

Henderson was awarded an 8/10 by the Echo’s Ian Doyle, who praised his tackling ability but also pointed out the midfielder’s excellent through ball to Mohamed Salah in the first 45 minutes.

Meanwhile Doyle gave Gini Wijnaldum a 6/10 but still talked highly about the Dutchman’s ability to work hard for the full duration. Keita was given a 7/10 but needs to tighten up his decision making, said Doyle.

There is some good news to take into the second leg of the Champions League last 16 as Joshua Kimmich will be ruled out through suspension. Kimmich picked up a yellow card in the 27th minute and will now be banned for the return leg.