Henderson: It's crucial we don't change our approach
Jordan Henderson is aware there is a lot of positive chatter around Liverpool's current run of form, but the captain insists the squad will not allow themselves to become distracted by such talk.
The Reds went into this weekend’s latest round of Premier League fixtures sitting one point clear at the top of the table as the only unbeaten side in the division.
They also booked a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after beating Napoli 1-0 at Anfield on Tuesday evening in a must-win encounter.
Nevertheless, Henderson has explained why no-one within the dressing room will be allowing any kind of complacency to creep in.
He wrote in his column in the official matchday programme: “As good as Tuesday night felt, the reality for us, as the team, is that the focus had to immediately shift to what’s coming next. It’s not difficult to do that when the next match is one against a side like Manchester United. The performance and result against Napoli was important and it now means we can park all thoughts of the Champions League until the competition comes back around again in the New Year.
“Like all of our supporters we’ll enjoy watching the draw tomorrow morning and we’ll have a chat among ourselves about who we’ve drawn just like our fans will. But after that, our sights will be completely on the next game and only the next game.
“It’s been that attitude that has got us into the decent position we find ourselves in and it’s crucial we don’t change that approach now. One of the gaffer’s mantras is that the most important game of the season is always the next one. The lads have bought into that totally. I know it sounds like typical football speak, but it’s important – important so that you are 100 per cent focused on the next job.
“We know there will be a lot of noise around at the moment about what can be achieved – in various competitions – but none of it matters. It’s not important right now. The moment you look too far ahead, you take your eyes off what is really important: the here and now. The reason that’s important is because it is the only thing you can affect at that moment in time.
“We had that attitude on Tuesday. We weren’t thinking about consequences or expectation in the Champions League. All we were thinking about was how to play the best we could, execute the game – and see what that meant at full-time. It was the same a few days before that at Bournemouth and before that against Burnley. A cliché, maybe, but ‘one game at a time’ is all you can do as a professional footballer.
“Of course that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the importance of the game we’re playing in. We knew Tuesday was massive for our supporters and the atmosphere in Anfield proved that.
“We know today is massive as well. It’s Manchester United at home – a fixture like this brings a responsibility to perform as a Liverpool player. None of us hide from that. We’re all aware of the history and significance of this game, but it’s about playing and managing the occasion when it arrives and making sure the size of it doesn’t restrict you from doing what’s most important – performing to your best.
“As a team I think it’s an area where we’ve really grown and improved. But of course at this level there is always another high-quality side looking to stop you, so as a team we can’t ever lose that focus.”
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