Jordan Henderson and the rewards of tricking the opposition into thinking something else. #lfc #AnalysisMonday
In yesterday's game vs. Wolves, Hendo had a big role in three of Liverpool's goals but I want to draw your attention to the goals of Salah and Matip and how Henderson deceived Wolves players into thinking something else.
Salah's
:
Just before Hendo gets in a position to receive the pass, he head scans his surroundings not once but twice to assess his options and create a mental picture of the pitch.

Just before Hendo gets in a position to receive the pass, he head scans his surroundings not once but twice to assess his options and create a mental picture of the pitch.
A second after receiving the ball from Wijnaldum, Hendo opens his body up which deceives the Wolves players into thinking he's going to play the ball out wide to Neco or into the right half-space to Jones but Salah's offering a more appealing option that comes with high-reward.
Henderson decides to go long. He doesn't play the ball to Salah's area or to his feet but he hits the ball in to the dangerous central area giving Coady no time to control the ball, especially with Salah nearby. This ball forces a mistake from Coady, Salah reads it and pounces.
Matip's
:
Henderson takes a quick short corner via a pass to Salah. Dendoncker is tasked with blocking the cross from going into the box and Moutinho is shadow marking Jones.

Henderson takes a quick short corner via a pass to Salah. Dendoncker is tasked with blocking the cross from going into the box and Moutinho is shadow marking Jones.
As Salah is left footed, it's obvious that he's going to cut in and put the ball into the box. To ensure Salah has the maximum space to do this, Hendo suddenly changes direction and makes a darting run to the right, attracting the 2 Wolves players towards him, thus creating space
Due to Henderson dragging Moutinho and Dendoncker with him, this allows Salah plenty of time to look up, examine his options and then put in a brilliant ball into the box which finds Matip to make it 3-0 Liverpool.