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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Mark Jones

Jordan Henderson targeted by Man Utd fans as ongoing Liverpool problem exposed

We came talking about Manchester United fans, but in the end their most cutting jibe might not have been reserved for the Glazers.

Alright, that's a lie, you all saw the scenes outside, but it was in a witticisms of the home crowd that Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp were given so much so think about at 2-0 down.

For while it is money matters that dominate on this side of Manchester, it is all about the midfield on the red half of Merseyside.

Or specifically the lack of them.

Thiago, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and, yep, Naby Keita, again, were all out here, with Klopp also opting to omit the out-of-sorts Fabinho from his starting lineup, going with Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Harvey Elliott from the start, the captain, his most experienced player and his brightest young talent.

A good blend, you'd think. But no.

Of course there were other elements wrong with the Reds side - quite a few, actually, quite what Virgil van Dijk has been up to this season only he knows, and his returning partner Joe Gomez certainly seemed spooked by what he was witnessing - but given the transfer obsession and the genuine midfield concerns, it is that area of the pitch that the eyes are drawn to.

Klopp, after all, said that the Reds would only strengthen there in this transfer window if 'something happened' that meant it was a necessity. Well being winless after three games is certainly 'something', and action looks like it is needed if this season isn't to slide away before it has begun.

Henderson was the first Liverpool player to be subbed (PETER POWELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

There was of course a new midfielder on show at Old Trafford on Monday night, albeit one that didn't play.

Casemiro was introduced to his new supporters before the match with all the gusto of a man who knows he has just secured a big pay packet, but the home fans were pleased to see him.

Midfield is an area of the pitch that United have needed to strengthen in under several managers now, and while no-one is pretending that Casemiro, 31 in February, is the final answer to all of the problems, he will at least freshen things up.

How Liverpool could do with a bit of that right now.

Milner was another who struggled (PA)

Eyes were drawn to Milner's struggles for most of the game, but it was Henderson who Klopp replaced first as he was changed for Fabinho shortly after Marcus Rashford had made it 2-0.

As joyous United fans sent the Liverpool captain on his way with a chorus of "you're just a s*** Casemiro" - one of their classier chants on an evening when the vile ones were out again - there was a shake of the head from the captain and his manager.

The Reds weren't in for the Brazilian, of course, but boy could they do with a new face about now.

The old ones have gone a little stale.

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