Jordan Henderson's changing role for Liverpool and unfair Gerrard comparisons

Jurgen Klopp explained Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson's tactical role as he insists he has a huge role to play in the Reds' future.

Henderson has suffered minor injuries throughout the season and has increasingly seen himself rotated among Liverpool's midfielders season.

He staked his claim for a regular starting role with his performance off the bench at Southampton, assisting Mohamed Salah's crucial goal and later sealing the win with a strike of his own.

The 28-year-old has solely been a No. 6 in Klopp's system, but he looked the part in a more advanced role, something he has only done for England in recent times.

Klopp says he knows Henderson is able to play in an attacking role, but insists he will use the skipper in a variety of roles, much like Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner.

“I’ve seen him a lot like that. That’s Jordan, that’s him,” he said.

“When I came in and thought first about the team, Hendo was a box-to-box player. We made him a No.6 and that’s good. I think it’s helped him a lot to play in different positions.

“I told him already that that doesn’t mean he will never play as a No.6 again. He thinks it makes sense, and that’s absolutely true. We play different systems.

“Millie [James Milner] and Hendo were both really pumped up. It helped us a lot.”

Henderson joined Liverpool in 2011 and despite being Liverpool's longest-serving current player, he is yet to win over some Reds supporters.

Klopp says Henderson has had the "most difficult job in the last 500 years of football" to replace former captain Steven Gerrard, who left Liverpool in 2015.

“Hendo, from my point of view, is a brilliant player. He’s our skipper, he’s a fantastic character. If I had to write a book about Hendo, it would be 500 pages,” he said.

“So I’m very positive.

“The most difficult job in the last 500 years of football was to replace Steven Gerrard. In the mind of the people it was like if it’s not Stevie, then it’s not good enough.

“And he has dealt with that outstandingly well so he can be really proud. Now we have to think of the future and he is a very important part of our team.”