How Advanced Jordan Henderson makes Liverpool better

Jordan Henderson playing in an advanced role is making Liverpool’s pressing game better.

Just when the man on the ball thought it was safe to take a breath, Liverpool’s pressing game has gotten even better. The Reds afford opponents even less time in possession with Jordan Henderson playing further forward.

It’s where the oft-criticized midfielder was during Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Chelsea at Anfield. The Liverpool skipper bossed the Blues by adding more resilience and extra bite to the already high-intensity pressing Jurgen Klopp instructs his title-chasing team to perform.

Usually, it involves forwards Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah defending from the front. They deny the opposition the time to play out from the back and also move quickly between the lines to rob any midfielder dawdling in possession.

With Henderson and Naby Keita joining them, the Reds had a platoon of seek-and-destroy emissaries to disrupt Chelsea’s passing. Their presence meant center-back David Luiz and midfielder Jorginho, Chelsea’s two deep-lying playmakers, were rendered irrelevant.

Henderson’s more advanced role also consistently gave Liverpool a numbers advantage in the final third. It was obvious in the build-up to Mane’s goal on 51 minutes.

Firmino and Salah combined on the right, with the latter playing an errant ball into the box. The cut-back rolled harmlessly to Jorginho, but Henderson robbed the former Napoli man and lifted a delicate chip onto the head of Mane.

What was telling was how two of Liverpool’s front three started outside the box, but Salah still had three to aim for in the area. Mane had been joined by both Henderson and Keita.

The deft assist showcased some of the quality Henderson is capable of in possession. Granted the strengths of his game remain industry and toughness, and Liverpool could still use a natural creator in the middle, but Henderson is not without resources in attacking areas.

Ultimately, just his presence in the final third is enough to give the Reds an edge. The numbers above prove as much, particularly the 85 percent passing accuracy in Chelsea’s half.

Henderson’s runs beyond the front also routinely pulled the Chelsea back four apart. It worked for Liverpool’s second goal.

Salah again received the ball on the right flank amid close attention from full-back Emerson Palmieri. As he often does, Salah opted to cut inside.

Chelsea would have been able to block him off had midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek not been drawn away by Henderson’s run in behind.

With Loftus-Cheek gone, Salah was free to drift inside and hammer a remarkable shot into the top corner.

Like Henderson, Salah had been enduring a rough patch of form. Yet just like his captain, the Egypt international forward has regained his swagger at the perfect time in this title race.

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Relentless running is Liverpool’s advantage over Manchester City in the sprint for the finish line. Few players can match the work-rate and tenacity Henderson brings to his key role.

Putting him further forward allows him to force more mistakes from the opposition. Those mistakes will leave more scraps for Salah and his fellow attackers to turn into goals.

Deploying Henderson in an advanced role also ensures the natural balance often missing from Liverpool’s midfield this season. Henderson playing at the tip of a three allows Keita to move into the middle, where his skills dribbling past markers, as well as his eye for a pass, make him the natural link between the midfield and forward lines.

Accommodating two forward-thinking players in midfield also lets Fabinho settle into the defensive, anchor role he’s most comfortable in. It was no coincidence the Brazilian was at his destructive best against Chelsea:

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The one problem with making roles clearer in Liverpool’s midfield is how the burden can increase on those positions. For instance, Chelsea found plenty of joy by playing longer passes over the top to bypass both the press and Fabinho’s deeper position.

Only Eden Hazard’s uncharacteristic profligacy prevented the Blues from finding the net at least once via this route.

Even so, there’s too much benefit to playing Henderson further forward for Klopp to go back on his word to the player. It was Henderson who asked to be moved, per Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph, a suggestion his manager wisely consented to.

Keeping Henderson at the tip of midfield ramps up the intensity of the gegenpress another notch, as if it needed it. Then there’s the freedom the tactical ploy affords Keita and Fabinho to play to their respective strengths.

An advanced Henderson also provides the support an outrageously gifted but overworked front three had been missing.