Liverpool manger Brendan Rodgers told reporters at his press conference before the game against Southampton, as reported by BT Sport, that there is no guarantee that vice-captain Jordan Henderson will automatically take the role from Steven Gerrard when he leaves to join LA Galaxy.
Rodgers was referencing the incident on Thursday night during Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Besiktas at Anfield in the Europa League, when the team won a late penalty.
Henderson and Daniel Sturridge both argued that the former should take it, but Mario Balotelli took the ball off the midfielder and scored himself.
Defending his vice-captain in his press conference, Rodgers said that he thinks too much pressure is being put on Henderson, as he has already been labelled by some as the replacement for Gerrard, who has agreed to join MLS champions LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
The Reds boss said: “He is a young player and you have to go steady with Jordan. Everyone is trying to catapult him into the next Steven Gerrard and he is not that.
“I have said it many times he is not that type of player. Jordan is a real honest boy, a hard-working player, a great team player.
“Steven is a totally different player to that. He (Henderson) is still young but it is not automatic he will be the next captain but at this moment in time, when Steven doesn’t play, he is working that role very well.”
Henderson has created 42 chances in the Premier League this term, six of which were assists, and with an average pass accuracy of 82%.
