Liverpool: Departing Adam Lallana pays emotional tribute to Jordan Henderson
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has paid an emotional tribute to his “selfless” close friend, team-mate and captain Jordan Henderson.
Lallana, 32, is set to leave Anfield when his contract expires on 31 July.
“Being beside him lifting the Premier League trophy, nothing makes me happier,” a tearful Lallana said about fellow England midfielder Henderson.
Lallana has won the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup during six years with the Reds.
However, the former Southampton player’s spell has also been interrupted by a series of injuries, and it is 30-year-old Henderson – who Liverpool signed in 2011 – he credits for helping him get through tough moments.
“Having been with Jordan throughout the whole journey, I’ve been lucky enough to be alongside him when he had his dark moments – and he’s also been alongside me in my dark moments,” Lallana told the Liverpool club website.
Henderson was named Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year on Friday, in part because of his role leading a player initiative to donate funds to disadvantaged people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lallana, who also won this season’s Uefa Super Cup with Liverpool, also praised his captain’s willingness to “take responsibility” for poor results on the field.
“We drew 3-3 away to Sevilla [in the Champions League in November 2017] after being 3-0 up. It felt like a defeat and Jordan took full responsibility,” Lallana said.
“But that just epitomises his selflessness. That’s not in the good moments, that’s the bad moments.
“He deserves to be captain of Liverpool holding the four trophies in one season more than anyone else, and no-one can take that away from him ever.”
