How Hendo has helped forge Melwood spirit
It's testament to just how far he has come in such a short period of time that Jordan Henderson now feels the onus is on him to help newcomers and youngsters settle at Liverpool.
When Brendan Rodgers made him vice-captain in September, it was to reward the midfielder's stunning rise to prominence on the pitch as well as acknowledge his constant maturing as a character around Melwood.
Not so long ago, Henderson was something of a peripheral figure, vying for a place in the starting XI; however, throughout 2013, the former Sunderland man earned and then consolidated his place in the team.
His cushioned volley at Tottenham Hotspur in December seemed to unleash an extra drive which helped the 24-year-old flourish for the Reds as he typified the side's pressing philosophy with ceaseless work-rate.
While the team has not been able to fully rekindle the form which saw them scale such heights at the back end of last season, Henderson appears to have picked up where he left off in the middle of the park.
New signings arrived in numbers over the summer and while Rodgers continues to mould the fresh faces into a system that works, Henderson has taken it upon himself to ensure the arrivals are bedding in.
"I came to the club quite young and I know what it's like to come into a massive club and settle in," Henderson told Liverpoolfc.com. "I feel the lads have done that very well; we're a good group of players. We all get on really well and we help each other in certain ways.
"Togetherness has been one of the main things about this team and it's still exactly the same as it always has been. Hopefully we can keep building on that and if I've got a role to play in helping them settle in and improve, hopefully I can do that."
Henderson has tried to show why Rodgers was right to install him as Steven Gerrard's understudy a day prior to the Reds' Champions League meeting with Ludogorets Razgrad last month.
The No.14 is growing ever more vocal out on the pitch and leading by example - and he insists he'll continue to do so, in order to develop into a potential leader at Anfield for years to come.
"I obviously try to do the best that I can in training every single day," said Henderson. "I try to encourage people and help people as much as I can. The most important thing is always the team and you've always got to put the team first.
"When I spoke to the manager, he just said to keep doing the things that I've been doing and that I don't need to change. I feel that nothing has changed, I just keep doing the things that I've always done and try to learn from Stevie."
