EPL
What Saturday’s red card could mean to Henderson’s future at Anfield
Liverpool were 3-0 victors over Watford in Saturday’s mouthwatering encounter which took place at the Vicarage road.
Though the scoreline sounds like the Reds had an easy game at the weekend, that wasn’t the case as Gracia’s men made the Anfield outfits labour hard for their first goal of the game.
Salah gave Jurgen Klopp’s side the lead before Alexander-Arnold hit the target from a well-struck free kick.
Firmino added the third late in the match when he nodded home from close range.
As much as the whole team are celebrating the win, alongside their ability to protect their unbeaten run, one player would be in a very sad mood.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was booked twice by the centre referee Card during the clash and that automatically ruled him out of Everton’s clash on Sunday next week.
With Liverpool 2 goals ahead, no one expects the highly experienced and influential player to commit such irritating, needless and inexcusable foul.
What could be the red card’s influence on his future at Anfield?
There are many great, young and hungry midfielders at Anfield who are seeking just a chance to showcase their qualities. Fabinho, Keita, Milner were all on the bench on Saturday and all more than ready to grab the slightest opportunity that comes to their respective ways.
With Henderson’s dismissal on Saturday, there is a chance for any of them to claim a permanent place in Klopp’s starting lineup in subsequent matches.
Despite Naby Keita’s recent form, the Guinea possesses a huge potential to displace the England international from the starting XI with just one game.
Fabinho is far becoming a regular starter in the team and it would only be a matter of time that he begins to feature more prominently with the team.
Should he gets the nod to replace the England international on Sunday, it won’t be a surprise to see him make the spot his own on regular basis.
As much as the marching orders could cost him a place in Klopp’s team, it can also stop him from being the club’s captain.
As captain, Henderson is meant to be a role model and someone who will sacrifice himself for the team but that wasn’t seen in Henderson at the Vicarage road.
Instead, the 28-year-old brought much pain to his teammates as they were made to play with 10 men for the rest of the clash.
James Milner, who is the main captain of the team, continues to be on the bench, therefore, making Henderson act as the captain.
Should the England midfielder continue in such unruly and unwanted manner, Klopp might be forced to take the captain’s armband off his hands and hand it over to Van Dijk who is more deserving of the title.
Considering the way fans reacted towards the red card on social media, it was obvious the player is losing the love of his supporters.
Fans reaction after the foul means the England international will need to be more careful and cool-headed in subsequent matches to regain the respect of the Anfield faithful
