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Jordan Henderson admits he had to give some of his Liverpool team-mates a ‘kick-up the BACKSIDE’ after their poor start to the season as he reveals his motivational techniques following Champions League win over Rangers
- Liverpool just recorded their second win in five games with a 2-0 win over Rangers
- Reds glimpsed their best form in Champions League success
- Henderson started and played for almost 70 minutes before being substituted
- After the tie, he admitted using contrasting techniques to motivate teammates
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Jordan Henderson admits he has taken different approaches to motivate his team-mates after a stuttering start to the season at Liverpool.
The Reds captain started on Tuesday night, playing nearly 70 minutes into his side’s 2-0 win over Rangers at Anfield with goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.
It makes it back-to-back wins for Jurgen Klopp’s side in Europe and sees them half way through the group on course to reach the last-16 after a jump over Ajax.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has opened up his motivational techniques
But the win only confirms the poor start to the season for Liverpool, who have won just two of their last five games and are 11 points away from early players Arsenal in the title race in the Premier League – albeit with a game in hand.
When asked how he interacts with his team-mates in his captaincy role, the England international admitted that he had to use a variety of contrasting techniques, suggesting that some Liverpool stars were slightly more sensitive compared to others.
“I have to feel that sometimes certain individuals need an arm around the shoulder, some of them need a kick in the back sometimes, but it’s trying to find the balance,” he told BT Sport.
Henderson congratulates Mohamed Salah on his second half penalty against Rangers
Henderson admits to vary his motivational techniques with his teammates in Liverpool
“When we’re on the pitch it’s not personal, you’re trying to yell, dictate and do what helps the team.”
“Off the pitch you can help the players and help them as much as possible and I try to use that responsibility, but we have other older players and experienced players in the dressing room who do that.
“It’s about staying together as a team, especially when you’re going through tough times. We’ve been through a lot as a team – and we need to use our experience to get through this.”
One player who has been criticized at Anfield this season is Alexander-Arnold, with poor defensive displays that have left him sometimes seen as a liability to the Reds and to England this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold hit back with critics after a top showing at Anfield on Tuesday night
But after his excellent free kick on Tuesday night, he hit back at those who doubted his abilities, claiming that victory over Rangers, even taking into account Liverpool’s poor form, showed what Klopp’s men were capable of.
“People say things, but I come out and perform for the team. It’s been a slow start to the season for me, but I’m looking forward to the rest.”
In an interview with BT Sport, he added: “The boys’ performance was amazing. On Saturday (with a 3-3 draw with Brighton) it was disappointing, we never got going with our press. We came out of the blocks slowly (on Saturday), but this was the opposite.
“We started well and kept it up throughout the game. They had their spells in the second half, but I think we played to our level overall.”