Liverpool’s Rodgers: Dalglish deserves credit for signing Henderson

Brendan Rodgers says Kenny Dalglish deserves credit for signing Liverpool’s “outstanding” Jordan Henderson.

The England international was a star performer as he scored the Merseyside outfit’s second goal in a 5-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Jordan Henderson has been absolutely outstanding in my time here, a great boy as well and wants to learn

Brendan Rodgers

Henderson struggled in his first 18 months at Liverpool after former Reds boss Dalglish signed the midfielder in a £20m deal from Sunderland in 2011.

However, the 23-year-old has impressed this year, and Rodgers heaped praise on Joe Allen and Henderson following their respective displays in north London last weekend.

“I thought both Jordan and Joe Allen were brilliant, in how they pressed the ball,” Rodgers told talkSPORT.

“Joe is an outstanding player and as time goes on at Liverpool, he will really show that. He’s a big talent; because he doesn’t get the goals, he’s more a technician and dynamic.

“He’ll get maybe six or seven goals a season. But his influence on the team to retain the ball is so important. He and Jordan were excellent.

“It’s a great credit to Kenny [Dalglish]. Everyone talked about Jordan Henderson coming in and the money that was spent on him. When you come into Liverpool, it takes you a year
just to adapt.

“He has been absolutely outstanding in my time here, a great boy as well and wants to learn. You saw his performance.

“You looked at Jordan – a few times he was really organising and encouraging, and getting into one or two of his teammates as well. That’s the leadership that you want.”