Liverpool should stay with Jordon Henderson as captain even after Gerrard’s return
Steven Gerrard is on the verge of making his comeback for Liverpool since he suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Tottenham Hotspur back in February. Gerrard is posed to make his comeback after a 3-week absence for the reds in the midweek game against Burnley. Odds are that he will start the match but should he start the match as Liverpool captain?
In Gerrard’s absence Jordan Henderson has proved his claim to be Liverpool’s next captain when Gerrard jets off to MLS next season. Henderson has shown qualities which Liverpool fans have grown to see and admire from Gerrard over the years.
Henderson, as the captain has led Liverpool to 3 back-to-back wins in the league. Those wins came against Crystal Palace, Southampton and Manchester City. All of these matches carried huge stake in Liverpool’s season.
Palace being the team that sinked Gerrard & Co’s title hopes last season, Southampton stood in Liverpool’s way of finishing in top 4 and Man City remain one of the best team in the league and Liverpool not only won those games, they dominated them.
Aprt from these wins, the way Henderson handled Balotelli’s penalty fiasco against Besiktas was worth admiring. He did not make a fuss about it and his public statement after the incident was a lesson for all the young aspiring captains.
Gerrard did claim earlier in the season that part of the reason for him to move away from Liverpool was to let younger talents come through and get regular 1st team action, in particular Philippe Coutinho. Look where that has taken Coutinho’s and Liverpool’s season. The little Brazilian has been on fire this season and doing wonders for the reds.
If Gerrard retains his role as the Liverpool skipper after his comeback, it might put a dent to Henderson’s confidence and Liverpool might loose the influence he has had playing in Liverpool’s midfield in recent games.
Gerrard has always put his beloved Liverpool side ahead of his personal glories and I feel it’s time for the legendary KOP to do what is right for Liverpool once more and let Henderson fisnish the season as Liverpool captain.
This decision will allow the former Sunderland man to grow in to the role and be ready when 2015-16 season starts fresh, instead of wasting first few weeks in getting a hang of being the full-time Liverpool captain.
