Jordan Henderson makes Jurgen Klopp joke ahead of Aston Villa showdown

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has joked that Aston Villa would need to appoint Jurgen Klopp in order to reach the next level as a club.

Henderson famously left Liverpool last summer, departing in a controversy-provoking £12m move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.

The 33-year-old's stint in the Middle East only last half a season, however, with Henderson seeking a return to Europe with Ajax in the January window.

His new club face familiar opposition this week, with Ajax hosting Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the showdown against perhaps the surprise package of the Premier League season, Henderson was asked what Villa would need in order to reach the very top.

As quoted by FC Update, the midfielder replied with a smile: "Jürgen Klopp!"

Clarifying his joke, Henderson added: "That sounds a bit disrespectful towards [Unai] Emery. As I have said before, I think he is a great coach. This year Villa has made so much progress. They are really attuned to each other. For us, Klopp was that kind of person, a coach who changed things in such a way that you could make big steps. Without him we might not have achieved as much as we have now."

While Villa are unlikely to be dispensing with current head coach Emery any time soon, Klopp has already made clear that he will not manage another English club and is set for a year out of the game before deciding on whether to take on another project.

Right decision to leave Liverpool

Meanwhile, in the same press conference, Henderson — who previously suggested he would've rejected interest from Saudi Arabia to stay at Anfield had he felt wanted — also admitted that Liverpool were right to let him go last summer, though it still 'hurts'.

"Looking back, I think it was the right time for me as a player [to leave] but also for them as a team and for them as a club, as much as that hurt at the time,” Henderson said.

"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.

"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."

On Liverpool's quest for four trophies in Klopp's final season as manager, Henderson added: "I just hope the end of the story is a fairytale for him and the boys and the club because they all deserve it.

"Last season was so tough on many different aspects of it, off the field, on the field, so for this season to be going as well as it has, I’m so proud of them.

"I was the captain for a long time there and all of the team still feel like my best friends, they are my brothers for life, really. I just want to see them end the season like they have been playing the whole year, with the young players coming in as well. I hope they can end the season on a high and win as many trophies as possible."