Carragher: Henderson's Exit Was the Wrong Call – He's Missing Out on His Anfield Farewell

Jamie Carragher has doubled down on his conviction that Jordan Henderson erred in abandoning Liverpool, insisting the midfielder has forfeited the emotional sendoff that awaits Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at Anfield in the coming weeks.

Henderson departed the Merseyside club during the summer of 2023 after Jurgen Klopp informed him his playing time couldn't be guaranteed on a week-to-week basis. The 35-year-old subsequently moved to Al-Ettifaq before securing a Premier League return with Ajax, and has since become a fixture in Brentford's lineup under Keith Andrews' management this term.

With Liverpool facing a significant turnover in experienced personnel—Alisson Becker now appearing destined to join Robertson and Salah in departing—Carragher contends Henderson's timing was fundamentally misguided.

Speaking on the Zac Djellab podcast, the Sky Sports analyst reflected on the midfielder's captaincy: "When I retired and Steven Gerrard left the club, it was, 'Who is going to be captain?' Liverpool fans were going nuts that Jordan Henderson was the captain; I was defending him constantly. Don't tell me who shouldn't be captain, but who should!

"It was right that he was captain. He was a brilliant captain, a great lad, a brilliant player for Liverpool. I still don't think he should have left Liverpool. He should still be at Liverpool now."

Carragher proceeded to lay out his case more explicitly. "I think he made a big mistake leaving Liverpool. He missed out on another league title. Obviously he went to Saudi Arabia and then Ajax and he's at Brentford now. He's doing well but he shouldn't have left Liverpool."

The pundit then highlighted the specific misjudgement: "It was because Jurgen Klopp said he was bringing in midfield players and he said he wasn't going to play every week. What Wataru Endo has done at Liverpool, Jordan Henderson is a better player; he could have done that, and he'd have picked up another league title."

Most significantly, Carragher emphasised what Henderson has forfeited. "I think he made a big mistake there, and what he missed out on is what Mo Salah and Andy Robertson will get in a few weeks, a big send-off from the Anfield crowd. Jordan Henderson deserved that. Fantastic player, fantastic lad."

Brentford currently sit in contention for European qualification next season, maintaining their impressive trajectory following Thomas Frank's departure to Tottenham last summer. Henderson remains contracted to the west London club for another twelve months.