Jordan talks Stevie, Kolo and Scousers
In a recent interview with the Daily Telegraph, Jordan Henderson explained why he's starting to feel at home in the city of Liverpool - and paid a glowing tribute to the passion of the Reds' support.
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The 23-year-old touched on a variety of subjects during the chat, including how he learns from the likes of Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen in training.
He also explained how Kolo Toure plays a crucial part in lifting morale in the dressing room, why he loves to play one-twos with Luis Suarez - and outlined his aim to break into the full England squad.
We've picked out the best bits from the interview for you to enjoy below.
Henderson on learning from teammates...
"I've improved positionally, getting in certain angles to receive the ball and going forward. Defensively, I've been making sure if I'm in the middle that I'm not running everywhere, leaving gaps. I watch Stevie. He's a massive idol for a lot of people and certainly me. I look at what he does very well and try to put that into my game. He talks to me all the time, want me to improve, helps me. I also learn from Lucas: defensively he's very good on the transition, getting the ball back quick. I also try to learn from Joe Allen, another central midfielder very good at making angles to get on the ball and go and play forward.''
On Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge...
"Luis is always talking to me, helping me in training. If I want to play a one-two, Luis is that good I know his movement, where he'll be. Luis is always having a laugh. His English is good. He gets involved in the craic. The two strikers have been amazing. When Luis was out Daniel was phenomenal. He led the line brilliantly, dropping off, going in behind, scoring goals. When Luis came back in, there might have been questions over whether they can work together. They've proved to everyone they can definitely can. It's natural."
On Brendan Rodgers...
"Even when I wasn't playing, he was still helping me, which meant a lot; a lot of managers will forget about you. I always felt he believed if I could do the things he was saying, he would give me the opportunity and he did. I kept working hard and repaid the faith he had shown in me. The manager has been brilliant since he came in."
On the Reds' start to the 2013-14 campaign...
"At times the way we've played this season has been brilliant: we've kept the ball really well, especially going forward we've been brilliant and defensively solid. The league is open. A lot of teams have new managers, so maybe they're going through a transition period. We approach the next game as the biggest of the season."
On team spirit...
"Come the end of the season, hopefully we're right at the top. We've a good bunch of lads, all get on well, fight for each other in games. We go out for food as a team, team bonding. It gets everybody together and gives us a lift. Simon Mignolet came in and settled straight away. I knew him from Sunderland. The most vocal in the dressing room before a game is Kolo Toure. He's experienced, played for some big clubs. He goes around getting everyone geed up, saying 'come on, we're ready, let's go'. Stevie will say a few things. He can shout when he needs to. Definitely!''
On Scousers...
"I feel I belong here now. The fans here are unbelievable. When you go out in the city, the fans just love football. As long as they can see you giving everything for the team they'll be behind you 100 per cent. The atmosphere here is incredible. The fans have been a big part of the season. Everybody in Liverpool cares passionately about football. We're the same but there are times when I just need to go home, be with my family, just relax. It's quite hard at times to take my mind off football but it's very important. I'll watch something on television, anything, whatever the missus wants to watch. We haven't watched much recently because we've just had a little girl, our first.''
On his early career...
"My dad was a winger, he tells me he was fast. I've always been athletic, did the 100 metres and 1500m at school, cross-country races and did well in them. When I was very young, coming into the Sunderland side, if we got beaten I'd be very down. I'd go home, and it would drag on for days, I'd be thinking about the game. I was from Sunderland, felt things like a fan and got really down.''
On playing for England...
"I love playing for my country, was proud every time I was captain of the 21s. I was proud to put on the England shirt with the seniors. I haven't spoken to Roy Hodgson since the European Championships. I'll try to make sure they don't forget about me and the only way to do that is to make sure I'm playing well for Liverpool. If I'm doing that they can't ignore me. But the group of players who got the team to the World Cup have been fantastic and a large amount of them will be taken to the World Cup. There will only be a few slots there for people determined enough and who want it enough.''
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