Jürgen Klopp has new Liverpool ruthless side and must defy critics with Jordan Henderson call

Jürgen Klopp has not been called ruthless enough and is now being questioned by former Liverpool players over one of his bravest calls to Jordan Henderson.

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Jürgen Klopp has tried everything this season. Liverpool’s form has come a long way in the past seven months and the Reds are now playing with the very real possibility of finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The Anfield side have played 20 games in the English top flight, winning just eight. To turn things around, Klopp has been testing new formations from 4-4-2 to 4-3-1-2 in recent weeks while ditching his signature high pressing.

His last resort was to get rid of his most trusted lieutenants, which has happened over the past month. Players like Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have been pillars of strength for Klopp throughout his tenure at Merseyside, but since the start of the year they have been presented with roles off the bench. Indeed, some Liverpool legends notably objected to the decision to step down as club captain, with Henderson replaced by Naby Keïta as starter for the side’s last four games in all competitions.

On Saturday afternoon, the Reds lost 3-0 to Wolves with Keita in the squad, in what proved to be an embarrassing performance from a group of players who clearly seemed to be struggling for confidence.

Following the defeat, Liverpool legend John Aldridge requested that Henderson be reinstated as a regular starter in his regular section. He wasn’t alone, and ex-Red Danny Murphy also said it on talkSPORT: “I don’t care how he trains, Henderson starts every game for me. He’s the heartbeat of midfield and still has his legs to foul.”

Systematic support from seasoned pros for Henderson is understandable, especially given his established status as the archetypal “leader” within the team and one who will alert teammates that they’re not behaving as they should. The Liverpool captain is known for his vocal qualities and acts almost like a coach on the pitch. He’s genuinely committed to the cause, he’s the ultimate team player and he’ll throw himself into the ground for the shirt, which is why many see his inclusion as an obvious choice.

However, Henderson, who is now 32, cannot ignore this notion. Despite his steely mentality and character, it looked like time on the pitch had almost caught up with him as the Reds struggled to establish the same level of central control as in previous years.

Henderson was always late for tackles, he was dribbling, he was panicking in the chaos of possession and chasing shadows. To be fair, these issues may affect many of the players on the team, but they still don’t paint it in a positive light.

He asks a question about the concept of leadership on the pitch. Some players are lauded for their contributions to morale, teamwork, standards and harmony in the locker room, but it’s a problem when these benefits take precedence over actual performance on the pitch.

Above all, players should be selected based on how they perform. Leadership shouldn’t be the primary reason to start a player, it should be an added benefit. Once players are picked for reasons other than footballing prowess problems often arise, and this is increasingly the case with Henderson, and perhaps James Milner, who plays less often.

Both players have served Klopp since his first day on the English coast and set the tone for their team-mates behind the scenes, with the German manager not long ago labeling his players ‘minded monsters’.

The pairing was invaluable, but their prominent figures in midfield prevented Liverpool from evolving. Last summer, Klopp tried to secure the signing of Aurélien Tchouaméni, but when the Frenchman decided to move to Real Madrid, Milner’s contract was extended before an alternative target could be found.