Henderson confident of Reds response against Fulham
Jordan Henderson is confident Liverpool will serve up a reaction to the midweek frustrations felt in Belgrade when they take on Fulham at Anfield today.
The Reds are aiming to bounce back after going down to a 2-0 defeat to Red Star in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Henderson acknowledges the performance in Serbia was not at the level Liverpool expect of themselves, but is convinced by what he’s witnessed at Melwood since that an improvement will be offered against the Cottagers.
He wrote in his column in the official matchday programme: “It’s inevitable in the modern era that people will now look to draw conclusions immediately, to want instant answers as to why and how, but we have to see the bigger picture, stay focused on all the things we’ve done really well and concentrate on what we can achieve going forward.
“As the manager often says, it’s always important to retain a sense of balance and perspective after a result – win, lose or draw. It’s even more important to sit down with the boss, the staff and your teammates to look at how we can collectively make sure it doesn’t happen again and put those learnings into practice in training and matches.
“That’s not to say we ignore criticism or feel it’s not merited after a performance and result like Tuesday’s, but we should only ever absorb it from those who matter. In our world that is the manager and his coaches, the supporters and ourselves. These are the opinions that matter to us and what we focus on in moments like that.
“Training on Wednesday at Melwood was as focused and sharp as you could have wished for, so it’s clear to me everyone is looking forward to the game today and signing off before the next international break with a positive performance and result. We are at our best when our mindset is of positivity and the right sort of aggression. And that positivity has to be focused on enjoyment of the game and taking satisfaction and pleasure from working hard for each other.
“I’m confident you’ll see a response from us this afternoon and we’ll be on the front-foot from the first moment, looking to put everything right, from how we defend as a team through to how we attack.”
Pick up your copy of the official LFC matchday programme at the stadium today, or subscribe online by clicking here.