How Hendo learned from Anzhi miss
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has revealed how a disappointing miss earlier in the campaign has prompted his recent goalscoring form of three strikes in five appearances.
A brace at St James' Park last weekend followed a crucial goal against Aston Villa at the end of March to increase the 22-year-old's tally at Anfield to eight since arriving during the summer of 2011.
The No.14 has reaped the rewards of practice at Melwood and a determination to avoid a repeat of a wasted opportunity when the Reds travelled to Anzhi Makhachkala last November.
"The Villa one was more clear-cut," Henderson reflected to the Daily Express. "I was one-on-one with the 'keeper, whereas against Anzhi I was coming in at an angle.
"I still should have shot. I thought there were others better placed, but it was the wrong decision, a bad decision. I was too unselfish. After that, I thought that I needed to be more selfish in front of goal."
That selfishness has benefited both the team and the individual - and Henderson has now been selected to start each of the Reds' last five Barclays Premier League fixtures.
He added: "There is no great secret. I've had a lot of help from a lot of people.
"I've been a Liverpool player a little longer now, you get to know people better, how everyone else plays and that is a big part of it.
"But maybe it's just hard work. If you look at Stevie and Carra, who've been at Liverpool all their lives, they still work as hard as anyone in training.
"They never ease off. They never hold back. They have their foot right down every day, going for it in whatever they do. I was brought up to believe that if you work hard you'll get your just rewards. That's what I try to do."
The England U21 captain attributes much of his improvement during the 2012-13 campaign to his tactical work with manager Brendan Rodgers too.
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"From day one he has been good with me. I felt I had more to give here, that I could help the team, that I was improving and I could give something back," said the former Sunderland man.
"He gave me that opportunity and helped me to do that. I have been working with the manager on the tactical side of the game, which I think has improved.
"I am thinking about the game a lot more. I am more disciplined in terms of when to press and when to make the forward runs.
"I have improved this season. If I look back on my performances I'm more mature, disciplined, more tactically aware. I just have to keep going in that direction."
Henderson also explained how conversations with sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters have helped the mental aspect of his performances for Liverpool.
He said: "I've been to see him. He has been brilliant, someone you can talk to if you want to understand how you can improve mentally. A lot of the time football is mental as much as physical."
