Liverpool will face a painful reminder of their recent glorious history on Saturday as they seek to revitalize their slumping Premier League title defence. Former Reds captain Jordan Henderson will face Arne Slott’s side for the first time since leaving the Reds when they take on Brentford in the summer of 2023.
The Reds defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League in midweek, managing to avoid a fifth straight defeat and their worst performance in 72 years. However, Liverpool’s third successive defeat in the Premier League left them four points behind leaders and new title contenders Arsenal.
Following last Sunday’s disastrous 2-1 defeat at home to rivals Manchester United, current Anfield captain Virgil van Dijk convened an impromptu players-only meeting the following day to discuss what had gone wrong.
But Slott believes his fellow Dutchman made the right decision in offering another perspective to a struggling side.
“What Virgil did and what I did is what you should do and what every player has done,” the Liverpool manager said. “No one should accept losing against United, especially when we’ve already lost three games. That wasn’t satisfying for me.”
“It’s not good if the voice they hear is always mine. That’s why they also hear my assistant’s voice.”
“And I don’t think Virgil brought them in and said (gesturing at the tactics board): ‘From now on we have to play like this.’
“We have five players who are captains of the national team. Virgil is not the only one who said something. We all need to be able to have a proper conversation as we gain experience.”
“I encourage kids to be responsible and talk to each other when they’re in the sauna, the pool, or even when they’re standing in a group of five or six.
“But when you have a respected leader like Virgil in the group, it’s good.”
Slott added: “I’ve probably been through this experience a quarter of a million times. If they were sitting in the coffee bar upstairs right now, do you think they’d be talking? I think they’d be talking.”
“They are constantly talking, sometimes with everyone, sometimes just with the leadership group.
“They talk and they should. They feel what’s happening on the pitch. But when it comes to tactics, that’s my area.”
The only Liverpool captain to win six trophies, Henderson’s influence is still visible at the club’s AXA training center, with passionate messages from the England star emblazoned on the wall behind the slotted press conference.
Van Dijk, who will lead Liverpool to their 150th victory tonight, took over from Henderson two years ago and led the Reds to League Cup glory in 2024 and Premier League crown last season.
“For me, he was the most influential captain since I became a manager. I mean this as a compliment, but most of my players in the Dutch league were 22 or 23 years old, because if they perform well, they will go elsewhere after a good performance,” Slott said.
“Virgil did exactly what I expected from him with his performance. He’s been a leader the entire time I’ve been here. I see him every day as a leader.
“You can always hear his voice when you start a session. I couldn’t have asked for more from him in that role. He was a very good successor.”
