Programme notes'We need to show the character, effort and determination put in against Ajax'

The Reds recorded their first victory in Group A last month by beating AFC Ajax 2-1, with Joel Matip heading in an 89th-minute winner at Anfield in front of the Kop.

A frustrating 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend has only further underlined the importance of maintaining standards for Henderson and his teammates ahead of their home meeting with Rangers this evening.

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In his column in the matchday programme, the captain writes: "After a really difficult opening game away to Napoli, we responded well to that setback in Italy with a hard-fought – but deserved – victory against Ajax in our last Champions League fixture.

"The performance we produced that night was not perfect by any means, but we did show the kind of character, effort, spirit and determination that will be needed again tonight.

"To be blunt, anything else is unlikely to be enough. We have to want it as much as Rangers do and probably a bit more on top.

"I'm not daft enough to think you will be coming through the turnstiles this evening feeling as confident about the team as you have done over the last few seasons.

"Our form hasn't been good enough for this to be the case and it is up to us to turn that around so that the faith that you have in us can be restored. After Saturday's draw against Brighton, the gaffer said that this is a period that we will have to fight our way through and that is spot on.

"We can't look for excuses, feel sorry for ourselves or wait for things to get better, and we definitely cannot and will not allow anyone to be singled out for criticism.

"The only way to deal with the challenges we are facing is by doing everything in our power, individually and collectively, to be the best that we can possibly be.

"There are no easy solutions, so it makes sense to work as hard as possible and take responsibility for ourselves, especially as this is a formula that hasn't served us too badly over the years.

"Rangers will probably look at our form and think we are vulnerable and that would be fair enough. Our results haven't been good enough to intimidate opponents, so it is up to every one of us to restore our standards.

"The reality is we can all do better. I don't say that as a criticism – it is just a fact based on how good I know we can be.

"This has been particularly true in the Champions League and our record in this competition demonstrates what can be achieved when we are on song. It shows us what is possible and it underlines our own potential as a team.

"We know how good it feels and how much positivity can be brought to the club as a whole if we do well in Europe, so we have a responsibility to kick on and keep on picking up points in a group that we all know will be competitive until the very end.

"A positive result tonight would keep us on the right path and it would be a step in the right direction, but if we are to achieve that objective we will need to be right on our game.

"This isn't a tie that can be won by default. It is too big for that, so we have to rise to the occasion. It's that simple."

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