Jamie Carragher believes Jordan Henderson 'should have stayed' at Liverpool for one reason

Jamie Carragher on Stick to Football Podcast Episode 14Jamie Carragher on Stick to Football Podcast Episode 14
Jamie Carragher on Stick to Football Podcast Episode 14 | YouTube The Overlap
England Euro 2024 squad: The Stick to Football podcast discussed the former Liverpool captain’s current career state.

Jamie Carragher has revealed that former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson deserved to stay at the club following his Saudi Arabia nightmare.

The 33-year-old midfielder left Anfield last summer to join the growing Saudi Pro League as he signed with the Steven Gerrard-managed Al-Ettifaq. It was a move that was highly publicised and criticised and after just 19 games at the club, he opted to terminate his deal and join Ajax in the January transfer window.

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That move failed to set the world alight too; his 12 appearances across five months failed to build any momentum as the Dutch side finished in fifth place. At the same time, Liverpool fans were waving goodbye to the likes of Joel Matip and Thiago following their 2-0 final day win over Wolves - two players who started alongside Henderson across many Liverpool triumphs.

And Carragher believes Henderson deserved to get the same type of send-off after lifting seven major honours as captain under Jurgen Klopp.“I just want to say this about Jordan - I spoke to him when he made the move to Saudi.” He began on the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet.

“I spoke to him, gave him my idea and what I thought of it. But sometimes you live and die by your decisions. It’s a little bit like Michael Owen when he went to Real Madrid – you think something good is going to happen. I’m looking at Anfield on Sunday, and it’s not just Jürgen Klopp leaving, it’s Thiago [Alcântara], [Joël] Matip, and they’re getting this big send-off.

“He’s the guy [Jordan Henderson] that’s lifted all the trophies for Liverpool, he’s almost just a little bit forgotten now – he made a bad decision going there [Al-Ettifaq]. I’m not talking about the off the field stuff, I’m talking about the football, he should have stayed at Liverpool, he deserved a send-off. You live and die by your decisions, and it blew up in his face.”

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Plus, the reveal of the 33-man England preliminary squad failed to include Henderson. Despite his presence at the last five international competitions with England. Having made 81 caps, it seems his decision to chase the Saudi Arabia dream has cost him a place at the Euros in Germany this summer.

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