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How Henderson’s new role affects FPL picture at Liverpool

Jordan Henderson (£5.3m) has been reaping the rewards of Jurgen Klopp’s new role for him in his midfield.

In the last three Premier League matches, the England international has been playing in a more advanced position within the 4-3-3 system at Liverpool.

We’ve used the Fantasy Football Scout members area to analyse the impact this has had on Henderson’s points potential, as well as his team-mates.

What is Henderson’s new role at Liverpool?

Since coming on as a substitute at Southampton in Gameweek 33, Henderson has been occupying a more advanced role in Liverpool’s team.

Jurgen Klopp has kept his favoured 4-3-3 shape but has tweaked the responsibilities within that.

Previously the three central midfielders played largely in line with each other, but there is now more of a split when it comes to the different roles.

Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) has been dropping a little deeper than the other two central midfielders.

Meanwhile, Henderson has been pushing up towards the right-forward in the front-three to help support them in the attacking phase.

You can see that in the heatmap above, comparing his touches in the first 32 Gameweeks against the last three.

There is a much higher concentration of touches on the right flank in the latter period compared to the former.

How has Henderson’s new role affected his points potential?

Jordan Henderson has had a much greater involvement in Liverpool attacks in recent weeks

Having only fulfilled this role in one substitute appearance and two starts in the Premier League, Henderson already has one goal and two assists.

He has also enjoyed more involvement in Liverpool’s attacks in the Champions League too.

First and foremost, Henderson is enjoying a boosted goal threat from his new role.

Jordan Henderson’s goal threat in Gameweeks 1 to 32 (left) and Gameweeks 33 to 35 (right)

As you can see from the table above, when we compare Gameweeks 1 to 32 against Gameweeks 33 to 35, we see a huge jump in penalty box touches.

For the majority of the season, Henderson registered 0.7 per game, but that has risen to 3.7 in the last three matches.

He has been offering plenty of attacking threat in these new positions too.

In the first 32 Gameweeks, Henderson was averaging a 0.4 shots per game, and 0.2 in the box.

However, since moving forward he is shooting more often, 1.3 per game, and with greater frequency inside the box, with 1.3 per game registered there.

The quality of his chances are also improving too, jumping from zero big chances in the first 32 Gameweeks to 0.7 per game since Gameweek 33.

Jordan Henderson’s creativity in Gameweeks 1 to 32 (left) and Gameweeks 33 to 35 (right)

Henderson has been more focussed in his distribution of the ball in his new role too.

While he is passing less often in the last three matches, you can see that his assist potential has gone up.

Chances created per match have risen from 0.3 to 1.3 and big chances created from zero to 0.7.

Has Henderson’s new role affected anyone else?

Salah has looked much better since Henderson has played closer to him

It is possible that Salah’s recent resurgence as a Fantasy option, in time for a Triple Captain opportunity against Huddersfield, has been a result of Henderson’s efforts.

Mohamed Salah’s goal threat in Gameweeks 1 to 32 (left) and Gameweeks 33 to 35 (right)

With the England international operating in closer proximity to Salah in the last three matches, we can see that the Egyptian has been receiving the ball much more often and is enjoying more time on the ball in dangerous areas.

His penalty box touches from Gameweeks 1 to 32 were recorded at an average of 8.5 per game, but they have risen to 9.3 per game since Gameweek 33.

Crucially, Salah is now shooting more often, goal attempts per game rising from 3.4 to 3.7 and efforts in the box from 2.3 to 3.0.

He is more accurate too, shots on target rising from 1.6 per game to 2.3.

Mohamed Salah’s creativity in Gameweeks 1 to 32 (left) and Gameweeks 33 to 35 (right)

Salah’s creativity has also marginally improved too. Between Gameweeks 1 and 32 he averaged 1.8 key passes per game but has recorded 2.0 per game from Gameweek 33 onwards.

However, it is possible that Henderson pushing onto the right flank more often might impinge on Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s (£5.6m) involvement.

As we can see from the heatmap above, the last three matches have seen a lower proportion of the right-back’s touches taking place in the final third.

These have been taken over by Henderson, leaving Alexander-Arnold to focus on the more defensive side of his flank.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s involvement in Gameweeks 1 to 32 (left) and Gameweeks 33 to 35 (right)

We can see from the data that while overall touches are at a similar level, there have been slight drops in the key areas.

Touches in the opponents half per game have dropped from 49.6 to 48.7, while touches in the final third per game have decreased from 29.7 to 28.7.

Obviously, these are not huge drops for Alexander-Arnold and interestingly, in the last three matches, his chances created per game has actually risen from 1.5 to 2.3, although some of these could be attributed to set pieces.

Conclusion

Henderson plays in the most heavily rotated section of Liverpool’s team this season

The fact that Henderson’s new role has boosted his Fantasy points potential certainly places on him on our radar in more of a significant fashion than in previous years.

If he can hold down this position then he could become an exciting budget differential for managers chasing mini-league deficits in the closing weeks of the season.

However, we should urge caution when considering Henderson’s signature for your Fantasy team.

The central midfield berths have been the most rotated under Jurgen Klopp this season.

While the front-three and back-four have been largely settled, especially since January, there are five central midfielders who have come in and out of the side on a regular basis this season.

Of those options, none of them has more than 30 starts this season, Georginio Wijnaldum the most used with 29 starts. The others, which include Henderson himself, James Milner (£5.6m), Fabinho (£5.5m) and Naby Keita (£7.1m) all range between 15 and 19 league starts in 2018/19.

That means that, at least for now, regular starts for Henderson are not assured, although that’s not to say they won’t be once has bedded himself into the new role for a longer period.

That brings us to the other reason for caution. At this stage, we have seen just three FPL Gameweeks with Henderson in this role.

One of these lasted for just 31 minutes as it was when he came on as a substitute against Southampton in Gameweek 33.

That means we cannot be completely certain of the trends we have discovered, which are, admittedly in their infancy right now.

Furthermore, we must recognise that fitting Henderson into Liverpool coverage at this point in the season looks to be something of a challenge.

Most squads already have at least one defender and one attacker, and many have added a third option to that from either of those positions.

Some may be unable to sign Henderson, while others who are considering signing a new attacker are more likely to find points potential in one of Salah or Sadio Mané (£10.0m).

This is where Henderson’s impact on the Egyptian could come in to play. With some doubts over Salah’s ability both the play and to do well against Huddersfield, the support of he has enjoyed from his colleague could be the tactical tweak that does, in fact, inspire him on to a double-figure haul in Gameweek 36.

1,124 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who to Captain, few good options?

    Lloris
    Laporte - Trent - Duffy
    Salah - Sterling - Son - Deulofeu - Jota
    Aguero - Wilson

    Foster - Jimenez - Doherty - Valery

    .2 itb

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I think you know what answer you will get?

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Salah

    3. Win'dian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Salah, Son, Sterling, Aguero in order

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        This

    4. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I honestly would put it on trent

    5. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers guys 🙂

  2. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which def to bench?

    A) Valery BOU H
    B) Duffy NEW H
    C) Doherty WAT A

    1. Drogba Legend
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Probably A

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Win'dian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      not A tough choice

  3. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lloris
    Laporte - TAA - Dunk
    KDB** - Eriksen - Son - Jota
    Aguero - Jimenez - Firmino

    Foster - Duffy - Valery - Camarasa

    A) BB this week
    B) TC this week

    1) KDB > Mane
    2) KDB + Son > Mane + Sane/Bilva/Pogba (-4)
    3) Son/Eriksen > Mane
    4) Something else

    Cheers

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B1

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B1

    3. Drogba Legend
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers both - TC Mane then?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I would do that.

  4. jorgenoj
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Duffy --> Matip?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No

  5. The EJJ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I'm 20 points ahead of my rival who i'm sure will TC Mane. I have Salah and will be bringing in Mane this week. Is it best to captain Mane in order to 'cover' the potential TC points?

    1. ㅤRising
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No, its best to captain the one who has the most potential to score big - Salah

      1. The EJJ
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        would say Mane and Salah's potential is pretty even, everything being equal i would captain Salah i reckon

    2. Flicka
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      That's what I would do.

    3. Win'dian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Only if you think Mane will outscore Salah. Play to your strengths, not your opponent's.

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      He might start to hate you 😛
      But everything is fair in FPL.

  6. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    KDB replacement?

    A) Deulofeu (-4 with Firmino coming in)

    B) Salah (-8 with Long and Romeu coming in)

    1. Lumberjack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Deulo might get rested, B probably safest

  7. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Quick one chaps, any obvious changes needed here?

    Lloris
    Duffy, Robbo, Laporte
    Eriksen, Jota, Mane (c), Son
    Jimenez, Vardy, Aguero
    ---
    Foster, Boly, Valery, Doucoure

    Duffy to TAA perhaps?
    Eriksen and Doucoure to Sterling and McNeil (-4)?

  8. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Babel on anyone's radar this week at home to Cardiff?

  9. Flicka
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    According to G-Whizz's Hot Topic, Liverpool's clean sheet odds are 61%.
    Triple Captain:
    1. TAA; or
    2. Mane

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      2

    2. Win'dian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      TAA needs just a moment in 90 mins to lose CS.
      Mane needs just a moment in 90 mins for a goal/assist.

      1. Flicka
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        TAA can easily get an assist too. You could argue at least a clean sheet will be spread around the defense evenly so that if TAA plays, he'll get the points. With Mane, he could easily blank while Salah/Firm score.

  10. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which two to play this week?:

    A) Lindelof
    B) Bednarek
    C) Jonny
    D) Kiko

    1. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B and C. Kiko rotation risk and United not solid at the back.

  11. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    1.Erik+muray>mane+quanr(1.5 itb)
    2. erik +murray >>mane+long

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      2

  12. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Foster
    Doherty/TAA/Kola
    Sterling/Mane(c)/Eriksen/Son
    Kun/Jimi/Gray

    Ryan/JWP/Valery/Duffy

    1FT
    £0.6

    Any moves needed for this GW or would you save FT?

  13. Garth Marenghi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Worth it to pick up Son this gw on a free transfer?

    1. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Who are you selling?

      1. Garth Marenghi
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Mkhi and/or Tielemans

        1. FPL_Gyarados
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Then I go with yes

          1. Garth Marenghi
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Thx. The Mkhi punt didn’t work out, but Tielemans did

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Definitely.
      Ban in CL means he'd definitely start

      1. Garth Marenghi
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, guess I’m always concerned he’ll be rested, but there’s just 5 games left.

  14. Jimi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Foden? Cheap 5th midfield gamble?

    1. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Very much a gamble. I personally wouldn't do it.

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      If it helps facilitate elsewhere..then yes

    3. Indalo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Too much of a gamble imo. Reckon he'll start 1 of the last 3.

  15. FPL_Gyarados
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else think it's going to be something silly like Duffy being player of the week this week just to annoy us even more?

  16. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who would you rather have

    A) Mane + Firmino -4

    B) Mane + Lukaku

    C) Salah + Zaha/Rash -4

    Thanks guys

    1. Lumberjack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A is what I'm doing

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks guys. It was just whether I should consider United or not.

        1. Athletic Nasherbo
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          In why I was stuck

        2. FPL_Gyarados
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I'm kicking Pogba out to get Mane

    3. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  17. Lumberjack
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I guess I need a LIV attacker. No idea how, quite like my current team. Any thoughts?

    1 FT, 0.1m ITB.

    Ryan
    Robbo TAA Laporte
    Sterling Eriksen Son Jota
    Kun Vardy Jiménez

    Gunn Boly Valery Hojbjerg

    1. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Could backfire but I'd consider Boly to cheapie and Eriksen to Mane.

      1. Lumberjack
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Worth a look, thanks

  18. Optic1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    What to do with KDB here... I have an option to switch to Sterling for a -4. Anyone else worth consider?

    Ryan
    Trippier Robertson Doherty
    Eriksen Son Mane(c) KDB*
    Jiminez Wilson Aguero

    Foster Doucourè Valery Bednarek 0itb

    Option is Doucourè + KDB > 4.0 + Sterling for a hit and exact money.

    Thoughts on this plan or other options welcome. Cheers

    1. Lumberjack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Plan looks good to me

    2. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Have you considered Bernardo as a straight swap? Lower ceiling than sterling tough..

    3. Win'dian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Kdb + eriksen for striling + Moura/deulo/jota

    4. Optic1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers for replies. Will consider the Eriksen to Moura option however as a -4, it would be weakening my starting 11 as opposed to losing my 5th mid (have a decent front 3 anyway). 3 games left I probably need to chance it.

  19. Indalo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Start 2:

    A) Duffy (NEW)
    B) Valery (BOU)
    C) Cathcart (WOL)
    D) Doherty (wat)

    Start 1:

    A) Wilson (sot)
    B) JWP (BOU)

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      ADA

      1. Lumberjack
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Agree

  20. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any news on KDB or is he just figured to be out for a while/maybe rest of season?

  21. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lacazette -> Firmino worth a -4?

    Might captain Firmino as a differential over Mane if I get him?

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      im doing it, though may stp short of captaining him

  22. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    RP, bottomed

    A) Salah + Ings
    Or
    B) Mane + Vardy

    1. Flicka
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B, emphatically

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers, think I like B better too. Will bench Vardy against city probably but he could do well against Arsenal.

    2. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B then maybe shift vardy next week

    3. Bagpuss
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B for me

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Done! Thanks all

      1. Party time
          4 years, 11 months ago

          B 🙂

    5. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Foster / (Ryan)
      TAA / Trippier / Valery / (Duffy / Boly)
      Mane / Sterling / Son / JWP / (KDB*)
      Aguero / Jimenez / Llorente

      1 FT, 0.9 ITB

      A) Trippier -> Robertson
      B) Duffy, KDB -> Robertson, Bernardo (-4)
      C) KDB, Aguero -> Zaha, Salah (-4)

      Help appriciated!

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        A

        1. bautasten
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Thanks!

    6. Erez Avni
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I have TAA, Mane & Boby.
      should I sacrifice one of them for salah? I want to captain him.
      I can't decide...

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        No imo

      2. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I would stick and C mane.

    7. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      5-4-1

      Played 2 times

      average 94.5 points

      😎

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        (no chips, I might add)

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        You Conte ??
        😛

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah except Alonso can't stop scoring for me

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            😀

    8. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Am I mad having 3 SOU players on the bench?

      Currently have: JWP, Yoshida, Valery

      Playing Doherty, Jota over them

      Right or wrong?

    9. Ajaxeeding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      The RMT estimates for Henderson I think do not reflect his potential. Will these be updated?

    10. Champions united
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Play duff/valery
      Or ings

      1. Bagpuss
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Would prob go with Duff

    11. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      GTG? Bench order OK?

      Ryan
      Robbo, TAA, Laporte
      Sterling, Mane(TC), Son(v), Jota
      Aguero, Jim, Wilson
      Bench: Foster; JWP, Duffy, Valery

    12. gelisiguzel
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A or B
      Hazard & Wilson -->

      a) Salah & Success
      b) Firmino & 8.4 Midfield probably Townsend

      Foster
      TAA - Duffy - Catchart
      Sterling - Mane - Son - Eriksen - Hazard*
      Kun - Wilson*

      Subs: Guaita, Jiminez, Doherty, Valery