Steven Gerrard has claimed that Jordan Henderson will be “hurting” after being axed from the Liverpool starting XI for their Champions League showdown against Spartak Moscow.
The Anfield legend insisted that his successor as club captain and former teammate will “understand” why Jurgen Klopp has omitted him for a match that Liverpool must draw to ensure qualification for the knockout stages of Europe’s premier competition.
Goalkeeper Loris Karius, wide forward Sadio Mane and defenders Joe Gomez, Ragnar Klavan and Alberto Moreno are all recalled to what manager Klopp might regard as his strongest XI.
The most notable omission is that of skipper Henderson, who drops down to the substitute’s bench after starting Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Brighton.
“I’m sure Jordan is hurting but I’m sure he’ll understand,” Gerrard told BT Sport’s live coverage of Liverpool-Spartak in the build up to the match. “These players cannot underestimate how big this game is.
“This is huge. If Liverpool are to compete with the Manchester Citys and Manchester Uniteds of this world then they have to stay in the Champions League.”
OPINION
Klopp’s decision to axe Henderson for one of Liverpool’s biggest matches of the season to date is telling. It cannot be said that the skipper has been rotated, as he was omitted from the starting XI against Stoke last week. It has simply come down to Klopp preferring the combination of Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum in central midfield, a pairing who made up two of the three centre-backs in a new defence in the mauling of Brighton. Henderson has been a nailed on starter under Klopp, Brendan Rodgers and Kenny Dalglish since his arrival at Anfield. It will be a huge blow to him that he has been left out for such a marquee fixture.