MatchJordan Henderson's Wolverhampton Wanderers programme notes

The captain writes: "It goes without saying that one of my greatest moments as Liverpool captain was lifting the FA Cup back in May. This was one of my boyhood dreams, so to be able to live it for real was a really special moment, especially as it capped off a run to the final which was part of an incredible season for us as a club – one which will live long in the memory for everyone associated with the club.

"Thinking back to that moment makes me realise something that I’d always known: you just can’t get enough of moments like that. They make all of the hard work and effort worthwhile.

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"Those moments also show what is possible when everyone is pulling in the same direction and we have certainly been blessed to have that as a club so we know exactly how important it is.

"I might have been the one clutching one of football’s most famous trophies above my head at one of the game’s greatest venues, but I did so on behalf of everyone who had contributed to that success whether they were on the pitch, in the dugout or in the stands.

"That is what the FA Cup which we won represents to me. It is a symbol of our togetherness and our collective desire to win.

"Yes, last May is now in the past, but everything we learned about what it took to win the FA Cup – and every other trophy we have won in recent seasons for that matter – remains as crucial now as it did then.

"The reason is simple. We will need the exact same qualities in today’s third-round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers if we are to give ourselves the best possible chance of progressing to the next round.

"This might be the earliest stage of the competition for us, but the demands are exactly the same so it makes sense that we use our knowledge and experience of what it takes and that we use it to our advantage.

"If we can do this, we will still come up against opponents who will have their own reasons for wanting to progress and the challenges will not be any easier for us, but we will at least be making the most of what we know and this can only ever help.

"Concussion protocols meant I was not able to play at Brentford on Monday, but I was as disappointed as anyone with the performance and the result. As captain, you always feel a responsibility whether you are on the pitch or not and this game was no different.

"To a man, we know we need to be better because we know that if we are not there are no shortage of teams who will take advantage. The good thing is we have an opportunity to strike back straightaway in front of our own fans tonight so it is up to us as individuals and as a team to make sure we do everything we possibly can to respond in the right way.

"If there was a positive on Monday night, it is that the response actually started in the second half. We need to take that character and determination into this tie because we are definitely going to need it and we are also going to have to build on it.

"One of the many lessons learnt from last season is that if we want to have special days in May, we are going to have to come through difficult moments earlier in the season. What happened at Brentford means we are in a difficult moment so it is up to us to find a way to get through it.

"Again, the best way of doing that is undoubtedly by standing together. This is what has given us incredible strength when we have needed it so we should not deviate from that approach now. If we can do that, you never know what might happen and you never know how far it might take us.

"Finally, I would like to wish you and all of our supporters a Happy New Year. Last year was a special one for all of us and although the new one has not started as well as we would have liked, we will be doing everything in our power to ensure that it improves and the sooner the better."

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