Jamie Carragher reveals why Henderson didn't feature in Sky Sports Klopp tribute

Jurgen Klopp left his role as Liverpool manager last weekend after close to nine years in charge, bringing the curtain down on a reign which put Liverpool back on their perch. 

Under Klopp’s stewardship, the Reds were once again crowned kings of Europe and England - for the first time in three decades - and he departs a bonafide club legend. 

Last weekend Sky Sports paid a touching tribute to the 56-year-old, sitting him down in front of a screen as Liverpool players past and present delivered emotional recollections about what Klopp’s tenure has meant to them. 

Current stars Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker - totems of the modern Liverpool - shared their memories while club legends Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, James Milner and Adam Lallana also delivered fond farewells. 

One ex-player conspicuous by his absence was Liverpool’s long-time captain Jordan Henderson. 

The midfielder is the man who lifted the Champions League and Premier League trophies and is a performer synonymous with Klopp’s greatest teams. However, he played no part in the tribute.

Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher has now revealed that Henderson DECLINED to take part in the Klopp tribute, emphasising that he wasn’t speaking to the press amid turmoil in his professional life. 

Moreover, Carragher felt something was off with Henderson, with his England fate sealed just a couple of weeks after the conversation. 

“I spoke to Jordan about two or three weeks ago and it was about putting something together for Klopp for Sky Sports,” Carragher said on The Overlap. 

“I could tell he wasn't himself. People have made a big deal about when they've watched, they said: ‘Why isn't Jordan Henderson on it?’. 

"I could get the feeling he was just like: ‘I'm not speaking to the press over here’. 

“So I don't know what the performances have been like. The results, I know it's not been a great season for Ajax, that’s why they brought him in initially in January. 

"There was an interview where a Dutch guy really put it on him. I didn't push him too much on: ‘Can we organise this interview?’”

Henderson left the club last summer for the riches on offer in the Saudi Pro League under Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq. 

He faced enormous criticism for his decision as there was a conflict felt on the part of fans between Henderson’s public endorsement of LGBTQIA+ causes and the status of same-sex relationships in the country he was moving to. 

Henderson opted to cut ties with Al-Ettifaq in January, joining an Ajax side enduring one of the worst seasons in their recent history. 

That move hasn’t worked out either with the former Sunderland star facing severe criticism from Dutch fans and journalists alike for the relative paucity of his performances. 

The 33-year-old only mustered nine Eredivisie appearances, largely due to injury troubles, and his poor season has ultimately cost him his England place. 

The 81-cap international was left out of Gareth Southgate’s initial 33-man provisional training group ahead of Euro 2024, capping off a miserable 12 months. 

“He's had a lot of stick over the last 12 months and some people might think: ‘Rightly so’, with the move to Saudi, gone to Ajax and whatever,” said Carragher. 

“I feel a little bit for Jordan Henderson. I know him personally. There's a lot of great footballers, Jordan's a great footballer but there's less great footballers who are proper men, proper lads and he for me is a good lad, Jordan. 

“You’d think he'd be in the 30, even 26, if he was not going to play.”