Programme notes'There's a lot to fight for - and we have to keep improving'
Jordan Henderson says Liverpool must continue to strive to be better before and after the forthcoming mid-season break.
The captain is targeting a positive sign-off this afternoon as Jürgen Klopp’s side host Southampton at Anfield in Premier League action.
It will be the Reds’ final chance to gather three points ahead of the pause in club play for the World Cup, which begins next week.
Henderson – who has been included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad – wants his team to build on their recent good results and strengthen the foundation for their return in December.
He writes: “I know the domestic campaign is interrupted by the World Cup after this weekend’s fixtures and some of us will have a big job on with our countries, but when the season does resume late next month, we have to be ready to pick up where we left off.
“The best way we can put ourselves in a good position to do that would definitely be by getting another positive result today.
“This has been a testing period for us, there is no question about that. Individually and collectively, I think we can all look back on it with a sense that we could and should have done better.
“Yes, there have been challenges that have been out of our control, but a big part of being a player for this club is coping with these kinds of issues and finding a way – just as we have done over the last couple of weeks.
“In their own different ways, our matches against Napoli, Tottenham and Derby County were all difficult games, but we came through all of them, and this says a lot about how we have addressed the situation we were in beforehand.
“All three of these were tricky fixtures, particularly on the back of a run of form that definitely wasn’t our best, so I’m really pleased that we came through each of them, particularly with so many different players having been involved.”
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On the meeting with Southampton, he added: “Today’s game will be another big test as Southampton have their own reasons for being desperate for the points, but we have to go into it hell-bent on achieving that objective.
“Whatever the outcome, it will be strange when the final whistle ends knowing we won’t play again for six weeks or so, but that makes it even more important that we sign off with a good result.
“If we can do that it will allow us to resume in a more positive position when the season restarts towards the end of December. Not an ideal position by any means because we would have hoped to have picked up more points than we have, but certainly a better one than we had been in a couple of weeks ago.
“So, let’s give it our very best and look to sign off in the best way possible. This season is different, but it can still be a good one for us. There is a lot to fight for and plenty that can still be achieved so it is up to us to do everything we possibly can to keep on improving, starting today.”
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