- Jordan Henderson started for Liverpool away to Porto with Emre Can suspended
- The Reds faced the first leg of their Champions League last-16 against Porto
- While club icon Steven Gerrard praised Henderson, he felt he can be too safe
- The former Liverpool captain wants to see a ‘monster’ centre midfielder signed
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard conceded that he wants to see the Reds sign a ‘monster’ holding midfielder in a bid to get the best out of current captain Jordan Henderson.
Former Sunderland man Henderson was restored to the side for the away trip to Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday night due to the suspension of regular starter Emre Can.
And with Henderson trusted to play the defensive holding role at the base of Liverpool’s midfield three, Gerrard believes his former team-mate sometimes plays it too safe to excel in that disciplined role.
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is often too safe in possession
They were team-mates at one stage and Gerrard believes Henderson is better further forward
‘I think he splits opinion among the Liverpool supporters,’ BT Sport pundit Gerrard said.
‘I think I appreciate him a little bit more than most people because I played alongside him. I understand the job he does for the team. He’s a very unselfish individual and I think he plays like that as well.
‘Sometimes Jordan plays the easy or safe pass when sometimes I think he has got that little bit more in his locker. He can open a defence up and he has got a decent range of passing but at times I think he does (play it too safe).’
Henderson was restored to the side in Emre Can’s absence for the away trip to face Porto
Speaking on BT Sport, Gerrard wants to see Liverpool go and sign a ‘monster’ holding player
With RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita already purchased ahead of a summer move to Anfield, Gerrard and fellow pundits Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard were split as to whether Henderson will make the team this time next season.
But for Gerrard the club need more than Keita – the Reds legend wants a ‘monster’ midfielder in the mould of Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama.
‘I think in a 4-3-3 you can play a (Naby) Keita and a (Jordan) Henderson because Emre Can is leaving,’ he said.
Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama was named by Gerrard as the perfect example of what they need
‘But I think Liverpool will benefit from a monster centre-midfielder. A (Victor) Wanyama type player who will sit in there and be disciplined and he would give more protection to the back four.’
But for Ferdinand, the writing is on the wall for Henderson, regardless of whether Jurgen Klopp goes in to the market to sign an established defensive midfielder.
‘I think when you bring (Naby) Keita in, (Jordan Henderson) struggles to get in that team,’ Ferdinand added.