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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

'What a captain does' - Jordan Henderson singled out after 'special' Liverpool performance against Manchester United

Andy Robertson has praised Jordan Henderson for setting the tone in Liverpool's humiliation of Manchester United.

The Reds romped to a 4-0 Premier League triumph over their bitter North West rivals at Anfield on Tuesday to maintain hopes of an unprecedented quadruple.

Henderson was restored to the starting line-up having been benched for the FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City. And Robertson believes the flying start from the skipper provided the platform for Jurgen Klopp's side to earn an 11th successive home league success.

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"From minute one I think we were on top, high energy, and off the ball I thought we were special, incredible," said the left-back. "Hendo set the tone with the first five, 10 minutes with his pressing and high energy, and I think everyone followed suit.

"That's what a captain does and Hendo has done that many a time for us and did it again, and we fed off his energy. The counter-press was on such a high level, we put them under pressure and the goals weren't too bad as well.

"The first one I thought Mo and Trent were going to fight each other for the ball at one point! Mo took it and it was a fantastic ball for Diaz. The second goal was special, what Sadio saw is unbelievable and Mo's timing and finish was special. A fantastic team goal. But those goals don't happen if we don't win the ball back and that's where the biggest credit has to go for this performance."

Thiago Alcantara was the game's stellar performer but Robertson believes the entire midfield deserves a mention for the manner in which Liverpool dominated United by scoring at least four goals for the third successive game against the Old Trafford side for the first time in their history.

"Thiago is a special player and the performances he is putting in right now are exceptional," said Robertson. "If he keeps that going, the better for us and the better for him. But Fab and Hendo were outstanding as well, they did the dirty work and won the ball back, so did Thiago. Playing on my side, it felt he was everywhere and we fed off each other winning balls back. The standing ovation he got, he fully deserved."

Robertson, speaking to LFC TV, added: "If you can't enjoy what we're going for and trying, then I think we're in the wrong job. When you're 3-0 and 4-0 up you're happy with the performance, but when we're smiling trust me we are very determined and still angry inside. That's what we have to be for 95 minutes."

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