Tuesday 17 March 2015 12:03, UK
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were both full of praise for Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson after his goal secured a 1-0 win at Swansea on Monday Night Football.
The England international got the vital breakthrough at the Liberty Stadium when Jordi Amat's deflected clearance struck him and looped over Lukasz Fabianksi.
Henderson has now scored in his last three Premier League matches in a row to help drive Liverpool’s push for a top-four finish.
Former team-mate Carragher says his improvement in the last few years has been remarkable.
"When he first came in, he struggled and there was talk of him getting moved on to Fulham and that Brendan Rodgers actually wanted to sell him," Carragher said on Monday Night Football. "But he wanted to stay and fight for his place and he's now one of the best players in the team.
He is never happy with what he is doing, he always wants to improve...he is now one of the top midfielders in the country.
"He is the type of lad as a manager you want in your team. He is never happy with what he is doing, he always wants to improve and, with the improvement we have seen in the last two years, he is now one of the top midfielders in the country."
Henderson captained the Reds again at the Liberty - until Steven Gerrard came off the bench - and was named man of the match.
Neville, who works closely with Henderson in his role as England coach, said he is a leader both at club and international level.
"He is not frightened to pull people out and talk, that is why he has the captain’s armband," commented Neville. "He is one of the leaders in the dressing room at Liverpool and he is the same with England.
"He has a massive conscience in terms of caring about his game and practicing on the training ground. I remember last year seeing a big change in him in terms of training and practicing free-kicks and set pieces.
"You saw him taking set pieces tonight with Steven Gerrard in the middle. Who would have thought that would happen two years ago?"
The win over Swansea keeps Liverpool just outside the top four ahead of their Super Sunday clash with Manchester United at Anfield.
"It’s a big win for Liverpool tonight but it was a big win for United yesterday (against Tottenham Hotspur)," said Neville. "If United had lost, then Liverpool would be above them already and you would really fear for United. The fact they played like they did sets it up for Sunday perfectly, I wouldn’t like to call it.
"It’s 50-50 because it’s such a big game. Even if it’s a draw, there is still a lot to do for United and Liverpool."
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