Jordan Henderson has warned Liverpool must learn the lessons of their tumultuous season and stay hungry in the pursuit of Champions League football.
The Reds produced the finest performance of their long and bitter rivalry with Manchester United as they inflicted the worst defeat in their enemy's history. Yet Liverpool have been here before; they beat Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield after a shaky start to the season - ironically straight after a poor defeat at Old Trafford - but didn’t build on that record scoreline.
Henderson said: “We have to use (the 7-0) in the right way. We can’t can’t get too confident or overconfident, for sure. It was a big day (in Liverpool’s history) and one that we’ve got to enjoy but, at the same time, it’s only another three points and we’ve still got plenty of football to go until the end of the season.
“We have to finish strongly. Hopefully, this gives everyone the confidence to keep building, keep working and keep going right until the end of the season and see where we can get to.”
Henderson’s words acknowledge Liverpool’s inconsistency this season. They have beaten Newcastle home and away, won at Tottenham, overpowered Manchester City at Anfield, and had five straight wins in their Champions League group.
Yet a week after the 9-0 triumph over Bournemouth, the Reds were condemned to a poor goalless draw at Everton then an absolute humiliation in Italy. The 4-1 defeat by Napoli was considered their worst of the season - and perhaps the entire Jurgen Klopp era.
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What Henderson wants to see is the intensity of the brilliant performance against United - and the confidence, too - without getting carried away.
“There are different tests along the way from now until the end of the season that will come and you need to stay positive, stay ready and stay hungry like we were (against United), and that will give us a good chance to finish the season well,” he added.
“The intensity and energy levels for the entire game were high, and something that we have been missing for a while this season. (When) we perform to the levels we are capable of, you get your rewards with the goals.”
