As Liverpool FC travel to Arsenal FC to play in a crunch Premier League tie, they have a decision to make regarding their captain Jordan Henderson’s heel problem.
Liverpool FC have kept two clean sheets in their opening two games. A major reason for that has been the industry of Liverpool central midfield, consisting of captain Jordan Henderson and vice captain James Milner.
Henderson has been struggling with a heel injury and had started the opening two games after taking pain killing injection.
However, he was substituted around the 52nd minute mark in the home game against Bournemouth. It was later revealed that the midfielder had a heel injury, which has plagued him for more than a year.
Henderson fears long injury lay off
The player himself fears a long injury lay off. With further assessments required, a decision must be taken whether the trip to the Emirates is worth the gamble or if it would be wiser to wait for a full diagnosis.
a I am getting assessed day by day,a Henderson was quoted saying by the Liverpool Echo. a It is all about pain, symptoms wise. When everything settles down I will be OK but I dona t know when that will be.
a I have done something with my heel, so every time I plant my foot whether running or walking I can feel it. It has settled down over the last few days but I dona t know what it will be like in terms of Monday. I just have to keep doing what I have been told by the physios in terms of treatment.
a I want to play on Monday but, if I cana t, I need to get fit as soon as possible. The problem is if I do play what is the risk and how long could I be out potentially if I do something in the game? That is up to the manager and the medical team as well.a
.
Liverpool FC must not risk Henderson
Henderson is without a doubt one of the key players at Anfield. The midfielder is not only the captain, his versatility combined with his ability to play box to box and press the opposition have been a key factor for Liverpool FC in recent times.
More so this season, with Lucas Leiva set to be loaned out to Besiktas and James Milner just settling in at the club, it will be a big blow to Liverpool if they lose Henderson. And while Emre Can is a pretty good talent, he is still far from a finished product and will have the inconsistency in his performance that comes with the young age.
Can is also not as disciplined as Henderson, defensively, with Liverpool being opened up from the center at will by Bournemouth when Henderson departed and Can replaced him.
Henderson also has a tendency to make late run in the box, something that was evident against Stoke when he ran clear in the box after a one-two, only to blow the final pass that would have put the goal on plate for incoming Benteke.
Henderson was also the player who crossed the ball for Benteke to score the solitary, and controversial, goal against Bournemouth.
There is little doubt that Emre Can, however talented he is, still cannot replace the Liverpool FC captain going forward or defensively.
Coupled with that, the injury to Joe Allen also has reduced the options in central midfield of the Reds.
Henderson is the engine on which the midfield is build and his partnership with James Milner is important to ensure that the opposition have no respite on the ball.
Henderson recorded an impressive 9 assists and scored 6 goals for the club in a disappointing season last term. With the transfer of Steven Gerrard, the midfielder is expected to further blossom at Liverpool FC. If he were to be out injured for a long duration right at the beginning of his tenure as captain at the club, it would indeed be a huge blow to him psychologically.
Liverpool FC should not loan out Lucas
Following Henderson’s revelation that he is suffering form the injury for over a year, now, the club should reconsider it’s decision to loan out Lucas.
The Brazil midfielder has been told that his services are no longer needed, with Brendan Rodgers seeing Emre Can as his back up holding midfielder. However, with Joe Allen out for another month or so, and the uncertainty regarding Henderson’s fitness, loaning out Lucas could back fire for Liverpool.