Xabi Alonso on Jordan Henderson: 'He's so vital for Liverpool'
Xabi Alonso considers Jordan Henderson to be a crucial cog in Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool machine.
Both Champions League-winning midfielders with the Reds, Henderson now captains the club in the No.14 shirt Alonso wore with distinction during his own five-year Anfield career.
And the legendary former playmaker has detailed how he sees Henderson as having a significant influence on the successful implementation of Klopp’s system.
“Jordan Henderson has become a figure in the changing room,” Alonso told BBC Sport.
“I think he's so respected, so important for his teammates - that's the sense I get from watching in the stands. For the way they play it's very important, the energy he has.
“He's able to take that step forwards, not backwards to make that pressure a bit higher. The way he connects with the three players up front, they play very direct and the way Liverpool is playing is the Jürgen way - the way they played at Dortmund with him and the way they play at Liverpool now.”