• Premier League

Henderson announced as Liverpool vice-captain

Jordan Henderson has emerged as a key performer for both Liverpool and England © PA Photos

Enlarge

Jordan Henderson has emerged as Liverpool's captain-in-waiting after being confirmed as the club's vice-captain.

The role has been vacant since the departure of Daniel Agger, who re-joined Brondby during the summer, and manager Brendan Rodgers likened Henderson's attributes to those of captain Steven Gerrard.

"Yes, Jordan is our new vice-captain," Rodgers said. "I have been here a couple of years now and been able to give the decision real thought.

"He's someone who represents a lot of what we are about - him and Stevie [Gerrard] are the moral compass of our group, how they conduct themselves on and off the field, how they train, how they work."

Henderson has become a key performer for both club and country after impressing during Liverpool's ill-fated Premier League title pursuit last season before featuring in England's first two matches at the 2014 World Cup.

However, Rodgers revealed how Henderson nearly joined Fulham two years ago, following a frustrating period under the club's former manager Kenny Dalglish, before persuading him to stay.

"I did not push him out or ask him to go," Rodgers added. "But, like I do with all the players if a club comes in, I present them with the opportunity they may have.

"I said 'listen, you have a chance to go to Fulham and you can go and play every week, or you can stay here. I can't guarantee you a game straight away, but I know one thing for sure, I will improve you as a player'. He wanted to stay."

Rodgers added that Henderson's initial period out of the starting line-up improved his tactical awareness.

"I felt that first period being out of the team really helped him tactically because we could work more on video and analyse his game and from that he has really grown in confidence," added Rodgers.

"You see now for club and country he holds himself really well, he's got a great stature and I think he will be around here for years to come."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd