Programme notesJordan Henderson: This is not about revenge, but we must be better
Jordan Henderson rejects the idea that tonight’s Anfield meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers is a revenge mission for Liverpool.
However, the captain has outlined the determination within Jürgen Klopp’s squad to produce a vastly improved performance to that which saw the Reds beaten at Molineux three-and-a-half weeks ago.
“It was less than a month ago that we last met Wolves on what was a day to forget for us and one to remember for them, so the fact that we play again tonight gives us an early opportunity to put a few things right,” Henderson writes, in his notes for the official matchday programme.
“The points we dropped at Molineux a few weeks ago were lost on the day and can’t ever be got back. Nor can we change the record books, which will always show a 3-0 win for Wolves.
“What we can change, though, is our own performance because the last thing any of us would want is a repeat of a display which fell a long way short of the standards that we have set ourselves.
“This isn’t about revenge. I always think it’s a mistake when the word ‘revenge’ is used in football. It is about us showing what we are about against an opponent which has shown what it is capable of.
“I have nothing but respect for what Julen Lopetegui and his players did on that day and it is because of this respect that I know exactly how well we will have to perform if we want to get a better result this time around.
“This has been a tough season for us, there is no getting away from that, but it is definitely worth repeating that it hasn’t been for a lack of effort that results have not been as strong as in recent seasons.
“Even when we lost at Wolves, I don’t think anyone left the stadium thinking we could have worked any harder – but they would have definitely believed we could have played better and rightly so.
“Thankfully, to a larger degree, this has happened in the Premier League games we have played since then. Our form is not perfect and there are definitely areas that we need to continue to work on and improve, but seven points from nine from a Merseyside derby and tough away games at Newcastle and Crystal Palace is never a bad return.
“Now we need to make the most of this improvement and take it up another couple of levels.”
