Henderson Dismisses Transfer Talk

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has dismissed speculation that he is ready to leave Anfield, stating that he intends to fight for his place and force his way back into manager Brendan Rodger’s starting eleven.

22-year old Henderson was signed by former Liverpool manager Kenny Daglish from Sunderland in the summer of 2011 for £16 million, a fee suggested to be overly generous for a player yet to prove himself at Premier League level.  Although Henderson was ever present in Liverpool’s midfield during the 2011-2012 campaign, he was also the subject of some criticism from the Anfield faithful, as Liverpool slumped to an eight place finish, their worst Premier League performance since 1994.

Since Brendan Rodgers has joined the club in the summer, Henderson has found his first-team opportunities limited to the League Cup and Europa League, with Joe Allen and Real Madrid loanee Nuri Sahin preferred in midfield for Premier League matches.

Henderson admits that it has been frustrating, but that he is ready to take any opportunity to prove he deserves his place at Liverpool. Speaking to The Sun, the England International said

“I am very focused on what I need to do and it doesn’t make a difference what anyone else thinks. I want my future to be at Liverpool so I’ll give everything every day to make sure that happens.

“Now I’m 22 and I’m not playing as regularly as I would like to but, then again, I have got to take on board what the people are saying around me to try to improve myself as a player. I definitely think in the future, given the opportunity I will take it and become a first-team regular for Liverpool.”

Henderson is likely to be drafted into the Liverpool first team for the Europa League tie against big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala in Moscow tomorrow night. Having already beaten the Russian side 1-0 at Anfield, Liverpool top their qualifying group, and another win will put them in a very strong position for safe passage to the knock-out stage of the tournament.

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