Jurgen Klopp rudely rejects Jordan Henderson request to return to Liverpool after difficult life in Saudi Arebia
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson could be angling for an Anfield return as he mulls over leaving Saudi side Al-Ettifaq but past comments from Jurgen Klopp make that unlikely
Jordan Henderson could be out of luck if it is a return to the Premier League he is aiming for – less than six months after leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia.
The decorated midfielder opted to end his lengthy Anfield stay in search of a new challenge, joining Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq back in July. Henderson’s signature cost the club £12million, but the England ace has struggled to hit the ground running and it is believed the Saudi Pro League outfit are willing to listen to offers for him.
Gerrard’s side are without a win since October and Henderson could be even more tempted to leave if his former Liverpool teammate is sacked from his post as manager. With just 19 appearances under his belt, the 33-year-old hasn’t done much in the Middle East to catch the eye of other clubs.
Comments from his old Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made when Henderson left Merseyside in the summer have resurfaced and quashed any speculation linking the midfielder with a shock return to the Reds. Klopp specifically cited the lack of game time on offer at Anfield as the former captain’s main issue.
Speaking back in September of last year after Henderson claimed his departure was party inspired by wanting to feel “valued”, Klopp replied: “Hendo said the truth. That’s how it was. We had talks, I told him I wanted him to stay but we talked about maybe not playing regularly.
“I cannot tell a player they can have 50 games because I don’t know that. In our relationship, I thought it was important we speak about ‘what happens if’. Hendo, I love him but he was not great when they didn’t play, [James] Milner and Lucas [Leiva] were the same. So we talk about that now.”
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Jordan Henderson is eyeing a return to the Premier League
Jordan Henderson is eyeing a return to the Premier League
Klopp went on to explain how Henderson struggled to come to terms with the fact that he would not be an ever-present in the starting line-up anymore. This is something that is unlikely to change were he to return to the Reds or a fair few other Premier League outfits.
“So, in Hendo’s ears and mind, he thought I didn’t want him there. If I said Hendo would be the main man for me he would stay but I couldn’t. That’s why it’s better he moved on. Not a bit of bad blood. Captain of the best Liverpool team in the Premier League era.”
Several different factors are believed to have played into Henderson’s doubts over his Saudi switch. Adjusting to lifestyle, the climate and poor attendances have all played on the mind of the midfielder according to MailSport.
There is growing belief that Henderson would be more than willing to take a major pay cut and write off millions in tax if it meant he could return to the Premier League. However, there is hardly an overwhelming amount of suitors for the ageing ex-Sunderland man.
With Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams both returning to Liverpool from failed loan spells in Scotland this month, Jurgen Klopp has explained the plan for the pair.
Five days into the January transfer window, Liverpool have already seen five players arrive back at the club from time away on loan.
Phillips’ half-season stint at Celtic was not renewed, after starting just four times, while Williams failed to make a single appearance for Aberdeen and joined Fabio Carvalho, Owen Beck and James Balagizi in being recalled.
With Joel Matip sidelined for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, This Is Anfield understands Phillips could stay beyond January as defensive cover.
Klopp all but confirmed this when asked about the plans for both Phillips and Williams, with the latter not given the same assurance.
“With Nat we have to see. We have to consider our own situation, stuff like this,” Klopp told reporters.
“He will definitely be with us until the end of the month. We will have talks and see our situation, that’s how it is.
“We really think highly actually of both, to be honest, because of the things the boys did when they were here.
“Now Nat, I’m not sure he would say it worked out 100 percent at Celtic.
“A little bit with injuries, but then if a team like Celtic is in a positive moment and you are in the team, then you stay in the team; if it’s not a positive moment and you are in the team, then you might go out.
“That says nothing about the quality. Nat will train with us, and then we will see how that develops.”
After their heroics in the 2020/21 campaign, Phillips had already established himself as more of a concrete first-team option than Williams.
While Phillips played eight more times in the following two seasons, the younger centre-back has not made another appearance, instead taking in loans at Swansea and Blackpool.
He was recalled from both of those, too, but Klopp’s assessment of Williams’ time at Aberdeen does not bode well for his chances at Liverpool.
“With Rhys it’s slightly different. He will be first with the U21s,” the manager confirmed.
“I will have to talk to him about why his loan spell didn’t work out, that was obviously different.
“The boy I know, I would expect to play in Scotland, 100 percent, from the first until the last second, if it’s not Celtic or Rangers where it’s always slightly different – and he didn’t.
“I will have to talk to him about that, didn’t do that yet but it will happen definitely. Then we will see what the outcome of that conversation is.”
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