Jordan Henderson was roundly jeered by Liverpool supporters throughout Chelsea's Carabao Cup fourth round defeat at Anfield on Wednesday, with the reaction reflecting the fierce rivalry between the clubs rather than personal animosity towards the former Reds captain.
The 35-year-old, now playing for Chelsea, was booed from his first touch of the ball and during the penalty shoot-out, in which he scored his first goal in front of the Kop in almost exactly five years to the day. Some fans also took issue with his animated attempts to cajole his Chelsea team-mates and his frequent discussions with the referee during a match Liverpool eventually won on spot kicks.
Contrast with May's warm reception
The treatment marked a sharp contrast to May, when Henderson received a standing ovation on his substitution during the draw against Brentford on the final day of last season, his first return to Anfield since leaving three years ago. That reception had prompted travelling Brentford fans to complain that Henderson was more concerned with acknowledging his former supporters and building fitness ahead of the World Cup than helping their team secure the win they needed to qualify for Europe.
Henderson has not played for Liverpool in a competitive match since May 2023. Chelsea are his fourth club since departing, having first moved to Al Ettifaq and then on to Ajax.
Rivalry and precedent
The situation differs from the abuse directed at Trent Alexander-Arnold in May last year, shortly after he announced he would not sign a new contract. At that time, the right-back was still a Liverpool player trying to beat Arsenal when he was targeted by a significant portion of the Anfield crowd.
Liverpool and Chelsea have become sworn enemies during the Premier League era, with Henderson having featured in the League Cup and FA Cup final wins over Chelsea in 2022, the UEFA Super Cup triumph in 2019 and the FA Cup final loss in 2012. His treatment was not dissimilar to that meted out to Michael Owen, who in the eyes of some Reds fans made an unforgivable mistake by joining Manchester United a full five years after he had left Liverpool for Real Madrid.
Even players who departed with a degree of acceptance from the Reds fanbase have found themselves in the firing line. In the Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona in 2019, both Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho were subjected to ear-piercing whistles and boos. The abuse was purely an attempt to rattle the duo and distract them from their work, and it worked as Liverpool overturned a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 on aggregate before Henderson lifted the Reds' sixth European Cup in Madrid with victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Ultimately, the real surprise is that anyone was taken aback by Henderson being jeered on Wednesday evening. As a successful Liverpool captain, he wouldn't have expected anything different, knowing what Anfield will do to help their team win.
