Jordan Henderson is set to return to Anfield with Chelsea for Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie, a match that carries extra weight after the 36-year-old's summer move from Brentford and a gesture that angered Liverpool supporters.
Henderson, who captained Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League titles, completed a surprise switch to the Blues in the summer. The transfer itself drew criticism from some Reds fans, but the reaction intensified when he tapped the Chelsea badge while celebrating a free-kick goal in a 5-1 win over Bournemouth in just his second appearance for the club.
Fan backlash and badge celebration
One Liverpool fan posted: "Tapping Chelsea's badge is unforgivable for me. We have to teach Jordan Henderson some Anfield lessons tonight." Another added: "I still can't believe how stupid Jordan Henderson was tapping Chelsea's badge." A third commented: "Loved Hendo for Liverpool but that was a bad move for him."
The mixed reception at Anfield is expected given the circumstances, with the tie also carrying significance for Chelsea, who are not involved in European football this season.
Why Alonso wanted Henderson
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder, has defended the signing, pointing to Henderson's fitness and experience. "He's 36, but he's in a very good shape physically. He has a lot of energy, but that hasn't changed," Alonso said. "I see he's 36, but you tell me he's 28 when he was playing in Liverpool, and he was pressing and following the press and wanting the ball and having this impact, having this influence in the rest of the team. [That] hasn't changed that much."
Alonso added: "He did that in Brentford, and that's why we thought that he could work in that position with the team that we had. Now he's feeling well, he's feeling important, and he's having a very positive influence. That's what we wanted, that's [what] we are getting that from Jordan, and he's enjoying his game. He's playing well, not for the goals he has, but for the impact that he's having in the team."
New approach at Chelsea
The arrivals of Henderson and striker Danny Welbeck, 35, marked a shift in Chelsea's transfer policy, moving away from signing young players on large contracts in favour of adding more professionalism and nous to the squad.
Early signs have been mixed. Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League, but Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham raised concerns among supporters. Tuesday's cup tie is seen as more important for Chelsea given their lack of European involvement this season. Alonso is likely to field a stronger side than Andoni Iraola, whose team host Arsenal on Sunday before an away trip to Fenerbahce in the Champions League next week.
