Henderson: It’s the best place to win an away game
Jordan Henderson hailed the spirit and character of his Liverpool teammates after they secured the local bragging rights once more with victory in one of the most dramatic Merseyside derby encounters of recent times.
With stoppage time ticking away in the Reds' 227th meeting with local rivals Everton, Sadio Mane was quickest to react after Daniel Sturridge had fired an effort off the post and finished emphatically to send the travelling Kopites wild with delight.
A 1-0 win moved Jürgen Klopp's men back up to second place in the Premier League - and the captain toasted a deserved victory at full-time.
Henderson told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s a great feeling, a great win. I thought we gave everything for the 90 minutes, we battled well.
“Early on I thought it was a bit hectic but as the game went on I thought we got better with our composure, we kept the ball well and kept it moving and created some good chances.
“I thought it was a very performance in a big game and to get the three points is brilliant.
“In the second half we were pushing to find a winner, Roberto [Firmino] had a great chance when he tried to lift it [the ball] over the goalkeeper who made a great save, but I felt as though it was coming because we were pushing.
“Thankfully Studge [Sturridge] came on, did a bit of magic, and Sadio was brilliant to react to it and get the rebound.”
LFCTV GO: Henderson reflects on a dramatic derby win
After a frenetic opening to proceedings, Henderson felt Liverpool began to find their feet late in the first half and continued to control from there.
He added: “The first 20 or 25 minutes maybe it was a bit hectic and wild but the last 15 minutes of the first half we started to control it and play the way we want to with the ball.
“We took that into the second half and thankfully, like I say, it was a great feeling after the game to get the win.”
Klopp welcomed back Sturridge and Emre Can into his squad after injury and Henderson was quick to praise both players for their contribution when they were introduced in the second half.
“It gave us a huge lift again because they are two big players coming back from injuries so to see them come on was brilliant, and I thought they were brilliant when they came on,” he added.
“Daniel gave us that little bit of magic to get us the winner and you need that, you need the squad depth.”
In the absence of Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan put in another impressive display alongside Dejan Lovren as the Liverpool backline kept the opposition attack quiet.
Henderson said: “The two centre-halves especially were fantastic. They were brilliant. I thought, to be honest, we defended well as a team throughout the game and we looked more solid which was pleasing.”
Liverpool’s No.14 also hailed the supporters housed in the Goodison Park away end, who took part in memorable celebrations with Klopp and his charges at the end of the game.
“They were incredible,” he enthused.
“Coming to Goodison Park, there’s no place you can come really and feel so good. It’s the best place you can win an away game but it’s three points at the end of the day. We can’t get too carried away.
“The game has finished, we’ll reflect on the things we could have done better and we move on to the next game.”