Pundit shares emphatic Liverpool claim as Jordan Henderson pictures emerge – ‘he’s the one’
Noel Whelan has insisted the returns of Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara will make Liverpool a “completely different animal”.
The former Leeds striker was speaking exclusively to Football Insider ahead of the Reds’ return to action against Brighton on Saturday (1 October).
As per Liverpool club media (29 September), midfield stars Thiago, 31, and Henderson, 32, were both in training after the international break.
Henderson made his return from a hamstring injury with a six-minute cameo during England’s Nations League draw against Germany on Monday (26 September).
Meanwhile, Thiago hasn’t featured for Liverpool in league action since the opening day draw against Fulham (6 August) – but returned for Champions League fixtures against Napoli and Ajax.
Jurgen Klopp’s side sit eighth in the Premier League after six games with record signing Darwin Nunez yet to find form on Merseyside.
Whelan claimed the returns of Thiago and Henderson will allow the Liverpool front line “freedom to express themselves” after a chastening start to the new campaign.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “Thiago is the one. He’s the one they needed back fit.
“But Henderson is a player who rarely puts a foot wrong. He’s very steady out there, very disciplined, he’s a leader.
“Liverpool are a completely different animal with him and Thiago back in the side.
“They’re very structured in that midfield area.
“Between those two players, they just give the front three that security and freedom to express themselves.”
“That midfield just looks a lot stronger with them in it.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire salutes Liverpool as “giant” new deal struck – “one of the biggest in the world”.