England fans divided and disappointed with Gareth Southgate’s response to boos at ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on Friday night.

England fans divided and disappointed with Gareth Southgate’s response to boos at ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on Friday night.

England fans were left disappointed with Gareth Southgate’s response to boos aimed at Jordan Henderson on Friday night.

Al-Ettifaq midfielder Henderson, who captained the Three Lions for the 1-0 friendly victory over Australia, was met with widespread jeers before the match and when substituted in the second-half.

England fans were left disappointed with Gareth Southgate’s response to boos aimed at Jordan Henderson on Friday night.

Southgate and his fans aren’t seeing eye-to-eye over Henderson

Southgate and his fans aren’t seeing eye-to-eye over Henderson.

It follows criticism over his summer move from Liverpool to the Saudi Pro League.

The 33-year-old was a fierce supporter of LGBTQ+ rights during his time at Anfield and many felt let down by his decision to endorse a country where homosexuality remains illegal.

There are also questions over the Saudi Pro League’s competitive integrity, with Henderson regularly playing in front of less than 1,000 spectators and still getting selected over players like James Ward-Prowse.

Nevertheless, Southgate said he cannot understand the negative reception for Henderson at England’s first home match since his controversial transfer.

Asked if he feels Henderson is still playing at the name level after his move to Saudi Arabia, Southgate replied: ‘We’re reviewing all of the games. I think he knitted things together, he held things together quite a bit today.

‘We didn’t have as many physically strong players on the pitch today, it was the team we needed to pick to preserve people, to give people opportunities, and so you need leadership, we didn’t have a lot of experienced leadership on the field, we didn’t have a lot of caps on the field, so Hendo’s influence before the game, during the game, was hugely important. He helped other players to get through the game, no question about that.’

“I really don’t understand it,” Southgate said of the reaction. “He’s a player who I think has 79 caps now for England.

“His commitment and what he has delivered for England is exceptional.

“His role within the group on and off the pitch is phenomenally important.

“He’s the one that has taken the likes of Jude Bellingham under his wing as soon as he came in the squad, provides a brilliant role model for all of the group in his professionalism and his approach to every part of his work.

“Some people decided to boo. I really don’t understand what that is for.

“We’ve got players in England shirts. Yeah, come on, we play Italy on Tuesday (in a key Euro 2024 qualifier). Let’s get behind this team.”

A number of England supporters took to social media to question Southgate’s supposed lack of understanding over what is clearly an important sentiment among the fan base.

One said: “No one is above criticism Southgate, even you and Henderson. Really losing my patience with this tone-deaf manager.”

Another wrote: “Guess Southgate thought it was just a handful of LGBTQ+ England fans who were prepared to show their disappointment in Henderson (and in the manager for selecting him), which would’ve felt easy to brush off. Turns out a lot of other supporters don’t buy the ‘explanations’ either.”

A third added: “I’ve supported Southgate for a very long time and still do but he has to accept that this was always going to happen – he can’t be so naïve. Henderson chose money over ethics and principles and is subsequently no longer playing at an elite level.”

This fan tweeted: “He can disagree with it but surely it was very easy to understand. The explanation is simple. They disapprove of his move to Saudi Arabia.”