Henderson: I'm happy to hand it back
Jordan Henderson is ready to hand the captain's armband back to Steven Gerrard if he's selected for the FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa, but admits it would be a 'great honour' to lead Liverpool out at Wembley if required to do so.
Gerrard is in contention to start the tie having completed a three-match suspension following a sending-off against Manchester United last month.
In his absence, Henderson has captained the Reds and concedes that doing so once again at the national stadium would be a source of huge personal pride.
However, should Brendan Rodgers elect to restore Gerrard to the starting XI, the No.14 will have no qualms handing the captaincy back to the skipper.
"Hopefully Stevie's back because he's a massive player for us and I think he can have a big influence on the game," Henderson told Liverpoolfc.com.
"He's a big player and he's been there and done it many times. He's a really important player so hopefully we'll have him back and he'll lead us out.
"If he's not, of course it'll be a great honour to lead the team out at Wembley but at the same time I'd want to take it as any other game and just concentrate on what we're trying to do, and that's to win the game and get in the final.
"It might not be easy [to do that] but I'll try my best. Obviously the emotion might be a little bit higher and the adrenaline will be going, but I think if you control that and focus on what your job is to do, which I think I can, then there should be no problem."
Since being appointed as Liverpool's vice-captain by Rodgers last summer, Henderson has taken on the role with relish, with the leadership qualities recognised by the manager coming to the fore.
The man himself explains how he's felt the need to step up on the pitch when Gerrard has been absent.
"As the season has gone on, I think I've realised I need to take more responsibility, especially when people like Stevie aren't there because he's such a big influence on the team and a leader for us," explained Henderson.
"We do miss him, so I feel as though when he isn't there that responsibility has got to rely on some of us and I think I'm one of those players that maybe needs to take more responsibility at times - and that's what I've tried to do.
"At the same time I need to keep doing that even when Stevie comes back in the team. I can still keep taking that responsibility on the pitch and hopefully do my best for the team to get the win."
After 17 glittering years in the Liverpool first team, Gerrard announced in January he'll bring his Anfield career to an end this summer and join LA Galaxy.
Before then, however, the 34-year-old is eager to sign off with some silverware and also a top-four berth with the Reds.
Indeed, this year's FA Cup final falls on the same day as Gerrard's 35th birthday - but while Henderson admits it would be the perfect send-off for the No.8, he is keen to stress the importance of not thinking too far ahead just yet.
He said: "It would be amazing - it would be perfect for him, I think it really would be.
"But it's no good dreaming and thinking of that. We have to go out there on the pitch and do the business.
"It is a big motivation as well, not only are we doing it for ourselves and the club because we want to win trophies, but I think that's also special because I think Stevie's given so much to this club, so for us to win it for him in his final year would be really special.
"We know Stevie's obviously not going to be here next year, and I think it would be his last game if we get to the final and his birthday, so of course it would be the perfect way to end his career at Liverpool.
"But it's not just going to happen - we've got to go out there and do what we've been doing for the majority of the season and that's putting in good performances and working hard for each other. If we do, we'll have a chance."
