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Jordan Henderson may have given his usual 100 percent effort to condemn Liverpool to another Premier League defeat on Saturday, but his post-game interview summed up why he was the ideal Reds captain for the best part of a decade.
Henderson departed Anfield in 2023, eight years after being installed as Steven Gerrard's successor as skipper, and having helped to steer the team to glory in England and in Europe. His return to the Premier League with Brentford raised eyebrows in the summer, but his addition is proving to be a masterstroke by the Bees.
After the game, Henderson was interviewed by TNT Sports, and he made clear how much respect he has for his former club and teammates.
"You look all over the pitch, there's not much to go at, they're all quality players," Henderson said.
"I don't really see a weakness in the team.
"I know there's been results of late that haven't been great for them, but, for me, they're still top players and a top, top team, and it's a matter of time before they get in a rhythm and get going.
"I think there's been reasons why they haven't hit the heights from last season, but they're still a world-class team and wherever you look on the pitch, there's world-class players, so it's always going to be difficult.
"But I thought the [Brentford] lads dug deep, stuck together and caused some problems on the counter."
Henderson was warmly applauded as he acknowledged the few Liverpool fans who had stayed beyond the final whistle after Saturday's game; what Liverpool fans wouldn't give for a prime Henderson driving up the standards from the center of the park right now.
"I think [it was] a little bit [strange] before because I've been at Liverpool for so long," Henderson said after being asked how it felt to line up against a team he made almost 500 appearances for.
"It's always deep inside us forever there; I'd been there so long.
"It was my life for 12 years. It was a little bit strange, but having said that, I knew when the whistle goes, it was business as usual, and I was focused and I'd be ready to go and I'd be in the right frame of mind, which I was."
Despite all of his qualities, Henderson was rarely universally popular when he was at Liverpool, but his leadership skills and application were always elite.
Those traits were both on show against his old employer — hopefully they rubbed off on one or two in turquoise ahead of Liverpool's return to action against Crystal Palace this week.
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