“We’re keeping him back” – National team manager confirms Liverpool star isn’t ‘training fully’ ahead of Man City clash
England manager Gareth Southgate has said that Liverpool star Jordan Henderson did not feature against Italy on Thursday (March 24), as he was unable to train properly before the game.
Southgate handed starts to Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips in a midfield three as the Three Lions secured a 2-1 win in their Euro 2024 qualifier opener. This was their first win against the Azzurri in Italy since 1961.
Chelsea's Conor Gallagher was brought on from the bench for Bellingham late in the second half, but Henderson remained an unused substitute. The Liverpool midfielder featured in four of England's five games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by France.
Southgate explained why the 32-year-old did not feature against Italy: (h/t Liverpool Echo):
"Hendo was a big part of the midfield in the World Cup but hasn't trained fully over the last week so we're keeping him back."
It remains to be seen if Henderson will be fit in time the next qualifying game against Ukraine on Sunday (March 26). Despite a notable dip in form, he has featured consistently under Jurgen Klopp.
The English midfielder has featured in 31 games across competitions for the Reds this season. News of Henderson being unable to train properly with the national team could worry Klopp.
Liverpool play Manchester City at the Etihad in the Premier League on April 1. Thiago Alcantara is sidelined with a muscle injury till next month, while Stefan Bajcetic has been ruled out for the season with a groin issue.
Liverpool still have time to salvage season with top-four finish
Liverpool's performance in the current campaign is a far cry from their displays last season, where they were in the hunt for the quadruple.
They ended the season with the FA Cup and the EFL Cup and finished runners-up in the league and the UEFA Champions League. This season, though, has turned out to be a nightmare.
The Reds have been dumped out of all cup competitions and are sixth in the league after 26 games. They trail fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by seven points but have two games in hand.
A positive result against the Cityzens could propel the Merseyside outfit towards a strong finish to the season as they look to finish in the top four. They haven't finished below fourth since Klopp's first full season in charge (2016-17).