Henderson: Captaincy adds pressure - but that's what I want
Jordan Henderson admits his status as Liverpool captain means he is under far greater pressure as he prepares to contest the second League Cup final of his career.
But the midfielder is adamant he enjoys that extra burden and will use it to his advantage when the Reds face Manchester City in the capital on Sunday.
Having served as deputy to Steven Gerrard throughout the legendary No.8's final season at Anfield, Henderson has stepped up to the plate to take on the captain's armband this term.
And he is now out to do as his predecessor did in 2012: lead the Reds to Capital One Cup glory at Wembley Stadium.
"I think it adds pressure but when you take on [the role of] captain of such a big club like Liverpool it’s pressure anyway, but as players you want that," he told Liverpoolfc.com.
"You want that pressure to drive you on, to motivate you to want to do better for not only the team but the club and the fans.
"I think the only added pressure is doing more media work before the cup final! There’s a lot of pressure on that, but it doesn’t matter, if I’ve got to do that, that’s fine.
"My main focus is on just the final now and concentrating on what I need to do for the team to be successful."
Despite that, Henderson hasn't allowed himself to imagine joining Gerrard, Phil Thompson, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Sami Hyypia in lifting the trophy aloft for Liverpool.
"That’s not really in my thoughts," he added. "All I’m thinking about is doing the best for the team where I feel as though I need to do as captain to lead by example.
"For me, it doesn’t matter who lifts the trophy or who judges me about being captain. All I’m bothered about is winning.
"If we win then that’s the most important thing and anybody can judge or say what they like because at the end of the day we [would] have won and that’s the main thing."
The No.14's dedication has endeared him to Liverpool fans over the course of his five years at Anfield and no doubt played a large part in his selection as Gerrard's successor.
But it is not just the football club that Henderson holds a deep affection for.
His love for a city he considers his adopted home shines through in his role as a Reds figurehead - and not least because his two children are born and bred Scousers.
"It’s a very passionate city, especially with football," he enthused.
"It’s pretty similar to when I first came to the football club and I said it was pretty similar to what I had grew up with at Sunderland, how passionate it was about football, the fans and how close they were to the players.
"Liverpool is very much the same really if not on a bigger scale, a worldwide scale and it means an awful lot to the Liverpool people here.
"It means a lot and I say that because obviously my children were born here, it’s their home and I feel as though it’s my second home now and it’s becoming more my home each day really, especially with the kids growing up.
"It does mean an awful lot to me and my family living here and I’m very privileged to play for this football club, and I hope to do that for many years."
Of course, Henderson is fully aware of the fact that his sheer desire to get Liverpool over the line cannot be allowed to spill over.
He appreciates the value of keeping a lid on those emotions and ensuring they are used to aid the cause of clinching silverware come full-time.
"I think there’s a lot of excitement but you’ll always get excitement and you get that feeling inside your stomach," said the midfielder.
"I think that’s a good thing, that adrenalin before a game and it will help you, especially at the start of the game when things will be pretty manic.
"With it being a cup final, the emotions will be flowing but it’s best just to try to control them the best you can and whichever way is best for you.
"For me, I’ll just try to treat it as a normal game but obviously I’ll have that extra bit of adrenalin if you like in my blood.
"It is difficult to approach it the same as any other game because it is a cup final and the rewards are huge really when only one team can win.
"But you’ve got to try your best to approach it the same, and to make sure the night before the game everything goes like it normally would and you are in your routine.
"That feeling of walking out at Wembley in a cup final will be incredible and you’ve just got to soak it up and enjoy it, and then use it on the pitch."