Klopp reveals selection talks with Henderson
Jürgen Klopp has spoken with Jordan Henderson about why the Liverpool captain is yet to start a game this season.
Henderson has come off the bench in each of the Reds’ three Premier League outings so far this term, which have ended in wins over West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively.
After helping England reach the semi-finals of the World Cup over the summer, the midfielder was one of the final members of Klopp’s squad to report for pre-season training.
And the boss has explained that while Henderson would prefer to have been in his XI against West Ham, Palace and Brighton, there is an understanding as to why he has been restricted to substitute appearances in the early weeks of the campaign.
Klopp said: “Of course it is difficult for him as captain, but Hendo is such an important player to us and he knows that. We had talks about that.
“Especially with his style of play and how he puts everything on the pitch, you need to be in a really good shape physically. And he had these moments during the weeks, not this week, but the weeks before when you saw it is quite intense.
“You have to do that [the intense training] when you can [and] we could do it. Hendo was the last one to come back. OK Dejan [Lovren] was but he's not been fit. Now Hendo has had four weeks. It will be six weeks by the time we play Tottenham.
“He's not in doubt and I am not in doubt about his role so he has dealt with it [not starting] well.”
Klopp has started the same midfield trio in all three of Liverpool’s fixtures to date this season and the displays of Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Naby Keita have afforded him the luxury of easing Henderson back in.
The manager added: “If the performance of the team allows you the opportunity to bring other players in their best possible physical situation then you should use it and that's what we did.”