BT Sport pundits Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen both singled out Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson for his role as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s extra protection.
Alexander-Arnold put the outside noise to one side as he scored a stunning goal during the 2-0 win over Rangers. The Reds full-back has rarely been out of the headlines in recent weeks, with his place in the England squad coming under increased scrutiny.
And after being snubbed by Gareth Southgate, he struggled for Liverpool during the 4-4 draw with Brighton at the weekend. But in front of a bouncing Rangers away end, the 23-year-old curled in a stunning free-kick to get Jurgen Klopp’s side off to the perfect start.
Mohamed Salah scored a second-half penalty to secure the points and put their Champions League destiny firmly in his hands. But speaking after the game, both Ferdinand and Owen highlighted Henderson’s performance, in allowing the likes of Alexander-Arnold to flourish.
“With the ball he’s [Alexander-Arnold] a magician, the numbers he’s putting up in recent seasons have never been seen from a full-back in this country,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “ In that sense, he’s the modern full-back, where he has been questioned, is in defensive positions and I think he’ll be honest enough to say there is a part of that and there have been lapses in concentration and things he can clean up on.
“But where he does go and vacate was very much protected by Jordan Henderson and I think that factor there plays into him performing his best when he’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Owen added: “I thought Jordan Henderson was key today, you saw the shape he was playing, in the first-half he was filling in for him every time he went forward. To have that insurance behind you when you’re going forward must be a great thing.
“He gets in forward positions and that means there’s a gap there but when someone’s plugging it, it means he doesn’t have to worry about what’s behind him and that’s key. If he’s got Jordan Henderson in the team, I think we see a different player.”
Klopp made a tactical tweak to his Liverpool line-up, having already conceded four on two occasions already this season. Alexander-Arnold suggested that change helped them stand up to the aerial bombardment from their Scottish visitors.
And Henderson confirmed that he was indeed tasked with helping cover fir the adventurous full-back went on his many forward forays - although insisted he wasn’t needed on too many occasions.
Henderson said: “I think you’ve got to give Trent the licence to get forward at times and produce what he can produce in the final third. I thought he was good defensively tonight, he done the basics well and overall, I thought it was a really good performance - I didn’t have to cover much.”
Liverpool’s victory puts them on six points from three games ahead of next week’s return trip to Glasgow. Napoli have taken firm control of Group A however, thrashing Ajax 6-1 in Amsterdam to continue their perfect European campaign.
