Jordan Henderson backs Liverpool ‘brothers’ to make history as he insists he has NO regrets over leaving the club… and reveals he is still in contact with Jurgen Klopp

Jordan Henderson has backed his ‘brothers’ to make history at Liverpool this season after insisting he has no regrets about leaving last summer.

The England man is now at Ajax after a short spell with Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, following his departure from Anfield in July.

Henderson also revealed he had remained in contact with outgoing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and had not been entirely taken aback at his departure. While Henderson’s Ajax side face Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, Liverpool are chasing the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League after claiming the Carabao Cup in February.

Henderson said: ‘I was a captain for a long time there and all of the team still feel like my brothers. To watch them do so well, I’m so proud of how they’re doing and I really want to see them end the season the way they have been playing the whole year.

‘With the young players coming in, let’s hope they can win the season on a high and win as many trophies as possible.’

Jordan Henderson has backed his Liverpool ‘brothers’ to make history in what remains of the season

The midfielder revealed he does not regret leaving the club and is still in contact with manager Jurgen Klopp (centre)

He won a number of trophies at the club have captained the team for a number of years

Henderson could be forgiven for feeling a tinge of regret at Liverpool’s performances. As well as the £700,000-a-week salary on offer in the Saudi Pro League, Henderson was reluctant to become an also-ran at Anfield.

Yet he left Saudi Arabia after only six months to move back to Europe and signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Ajax. The regular injury problems Liverpool have had mean Henderson would surely have played more frequently than he or Klopp might have anticipated before the season began.

Though Henderson revealed Klopp’s decision had been difficult to take, he now believes it was correct. ‘It was the right time for me as a player but also for them as a team and for them as a club, as much as that hurt at the time,’ he explained.

He left Al-Ettifaq after six months, ripping up his £700,000-a-week contract in Saudi Arabia

Henderson praised Virgil van Dijk (left) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (right), who have stepped up as captain and vice captain

‘I was very emotional. Looking back in that period of time, looking back now, it is easy to see that it was the right decision made by the manager and the club. It was the best decision to freshen things up. If you look at Virgil van Dijk becoming captain, Trent Alexander-Arnold becoming vice-captain, and how they’ve stepped up again this season, I think it has given them another lift.

‘They have been two huge players for the team this season. I think it was the best thing for the club and the team and you can see that in the performances and how they’ve done, as much as that hurts me.

‘It’s football and you move on. I’m so happy it’s worked out for them so far and I’ve just got my fingers crossed it can be a fairytale end for Jurgen because he deserves it.’

Few expected that only six months after Henderson left, Klopp would also announce his departure. The German will bow out after nearly nine years in charge to take a break from football, after winning eight trophies at Anfield.

The midfielder said he was not shocked by Klopp’s decision to step down as Liverpool manager

Henderson has stayed in touch with Klopp since leaving and though most in football were left astounded that the former Borussia Dortmund boss would be stepping down, Henderson was not among them.

He added: ‘I have spoken to him a little bit. When I found out, it was quite shocking news for everyone. But at the same time, I probably wasn’t as surprised as everyone else was because he has been there a long time and the passion and emotion that he gives teams and the club, to do that for a long time must wear you out.

‘It will give him an extra energy boost until the end of the season, we have seen that already and from the players as well. Hopefully that will get them over the line on a few trophies over the next few months.’