After another win and another clean sheet – this time against Manchester United –, Liverpool all but have their name on the Premier League trophy.
The form of Jurgen Klopp's side and, in particular, their defensive record (they haven't conceded domestically or in Europe since December 4th) has had a lot to do with the performances of Jordan Henderson, according to Kenny Cunningham.
Cunningham was speaking on Monday's OTB AM and praised the often underrated Liverpool captain as central to six weeks of defensive solidity.
While many have praised the partnership of Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk, "you'd be foolish in thinking that the position of Jordan Henderson in front of them hasn't played a huge part in those clean sheets," Cunningham insisted.
"I've said it before, it's no coincidence, Fabinho going out of the team and Henderson being dropped into that defensive midfield position has been even more important than Gomez coming in alongside Van Dijk.
"It's that axis, those three players, most importantly Henderson in front has been the most responsible for those clean sheets over the past six weeks."
What is it that Henderson brings that Fabinho doesn't?
"Simple," Cunningham says. "Better defender, quicker over the ground, sees danger, tracks runners, just a better defensive midfielder."
"Fabinho is a good player, a good footballer, very comfortable on the ball, but he hasn't got Henderson's mobility, doesn't sense danger, doesn't give as good a screen in front of that defensive two, that's pretty obvious to me."
With Fabinho returning from ligament injury with seven minutes off the bench against United on Sunday, Cunnigham expects Klopp to play both Henderson and Fabinho alongside each other.
However, as the Champions League's knockout stages begin the former Ireland captain argued that Henderson should be allowed to resume Liverpool's defensive anchor duties over Fabinho.
"For me, when those big games come about... he has to stick with that axis of Henderson, Gomez, and Van Dijk, because those three guarantee clean sheets. If you can guarantee yourself a clean sheet going into the knockout stages of the Champions League there is a fair chance you are going to win that competition."
"It's a great conundrum for Klopp to have but if I'm a Liverpool centre-half – not that I'd compare myself to any of those Liverpool centre-halves – the one player I want to see 10 yards in front of me for the majority of a game is Jordan Henderson because he's the one I trust in terms of the defensive aspect of his game."
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