Jamie Carragher has named Jordan Henderson in his only key concern for Liverpool during the new Premier League season that may cost boss Jurgen Klopp in the 2022/23 title-race.
Jamie Carragher names Jordan Henderson in Liverpool title-race claim
The biggest question mark hanging over Liverpool for the Premier League title-race is who from Jurgen Klopp’s midfield will step up to score, according to Jamie Carragher, who told Sky Sports that Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are worries over their availability.
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Carragher believes Klopp will need his central options to help carry the goalscoring burden with the Reds’ frontline this term. Otherwise, the Anfield hero suspects his former side will fall away from Manchester City as the Citizens look to retain their crown for a third season.
Liverpool scored 94 goals as a team last term with Mohamed Salah taking the Golden Boot with 23 efforts recorded. But defensive midfielder Fabinho was the Merseyside outfit’s top scorer from the engine room. Even though the Brazilian anchor only hit the net five times.
Sadio Mane, now of Bayern Munich after a £27.5m rising to £35m transfer, ranked second at Anfield with 16 goals. Diogo Jota was the only other Liverpool player to record a double digit haul with 15, ahead of Fabinho, Roberto Firmino (5) and January signing Luis Diaz (4).
After Fabinho’s five, Naby Keita was Liverpool’s next-best goalscoring option from midfield with three. Henderson, meanwhile, hit home two with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – who will miss a number of months with a hamstring injury – while Thiago only rippled the net once.
Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara injury records also a concern
Henderson and Thiago’s injury records also concern Carragher, having seen Liverpool play without the pair regularly in recent years. While the former started 29 of his 35 Premier League outings last season, Henderson he only opened 20 of 21 appearances in 2020/21.
Thiago also only opened 20 of his 24 Premier League appearances in 2020/21 after joining from Bayern Munich for £20m, rising to £25m. While the Spaniard regressed to start just 17 of his 25 outings last season, but was crucial when on the field as he pulled the strings.
So, Henderson – who also cost Liverpool £20m when joining from Sunderland back in 2011 – and Thiago will need to stay fit, as well as score, to ease Carragher’s title-race concerns.
“Midfield,” Carragher said. “They’re all at a similar age. They’ve got Jordan Henderson and Thiago who have had injuries in the last three or four years and I don’t think it’s a numbers problem for Liverpool in terms of midfield, but it’s the quality.
“I always feel there’s so much pressure on the front three to score, but they can’t score every game. You need someone to come out of nowhere from midfield. If Liverpool are to fall down this season, I think it will be something in midfield.”
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