- Jordan Henderson says Liverpool let themselves down against Sevilla
- Reds gave up 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 in Spain
- Henderson criticised for role in team’s collapse
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Jordan Henderson admits Liverpool’s commanding first-half against Sevilla was put to waste by their shocking performance after the interval.
The Reds’ displays either-side of the break were polar opposites, with Jurgen Klopp’s side crumbling as the inspired hosts produced a second-half comeback.
A brace from Roberto Firmino and a Sadio Mane header had given Liverpool a deserved 3-0 advantage after just half-an-hour.
Klopp’s men were in cruise control and running a helpless Sevilla defence ragged in front of their own disgruntled and bemused supporters. Liverpool established themselves as a class above, making their second-half capitulation somewhat indefensible.
Reflecting on the night, Henderson said: “We let ourselves down,” as reported by the Guardian.
“The performance in the second half undid all the good work we did in the first. We were disciplined, kept the ball at the right times, scored brilliant goals and defended well.”
“Even though I thought they had good chances in the first half I thought we defended well. It just felt as though we didn’t start well in the second half, straight from the kick off, and we didn’t recover.”
“It was really disappointing. It doesn’t feel good but at the same time when we come to look at the table it is still in our own hands.”
Henderson himself has since been criticised for failing to inject the leadership that was required in such an intense scenario.
The skipper, like many of his teammates, was non-existent as Sevilla clawed their way back into the game having once looked dead and buried.
He offered little protection for his exposed back four and appeared to abandon the ability to keep possession and dictate the tempo of the game that he has proven to be so effective at in the past.
The performance marked the latest reminder of how valuable a conventional defensive midfielder would be in Klopp’s setup.
For Éver Banega to be afforded the time and space to control the game with such ease was unforgivable from Liverpool’s midfielders.