2) Jordan Henderson
Henderson has been one of our stand-out players so far this season, so don’t interpret his inclusion in this list as a criticism of his abilities. The case in point is that Henderson will start next season with a very different role. For the first time in 12 years, Steven Gerrard will not be Liverpool’s club captain. With Henderson likely to take over the role at the end of the current campaign, he will subsequently shoulder a heavy burden.
Not only will he constantly be compared to his predecessor, he must try and lead the Reds back in the right direction after a difficult and frustrating campaign. Henderson might not have the same levels of sheer talent that Gerrard did at his peak – few players ever have – but he has the same heart, commitment and tenacity. He’ll need these qualities in spades if he’s to prove his doubters wrong.
