Jordan Henderson argues against Liverpool rebuild claims
By Tom Gott
Jordan Henderson has insisted that Liverpool will not be going through a rebuild this summer, but did concede there will be a handful of new players heading to Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's side are in pursuit of a top-four finish which looked nearly impossible just a few months ago, with Liverpool spending the vast majority of the campaign lost in mid-table obscurity before a huge upturn in form.
Wherever Liverpool end up finishing, the need to refresh the squad is clear and Henderson is braced for the challenges that come with introducing a number of new faces.
"I don’t think it’s a rebuild to be honest," he told PA, at an NHS Charities Together event in Crewe. "I do think there will be new players coming in. A rebuild is changing an entire team – which I don’t think we will be doing.
"I think you have a lot of core players in the team that will still be there and are still in great shape to compete and be successful. But yes, it will need freshening up of course with players leaving and trying to improve the team.
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"I am sure players will be coming in at some point to give us a boost and freshen things up a bit and hopefully put us in good position come the first game of the season."
Midfield is expected to be the main focal point of Liverpool's transfer business this summer. Having accepted defeat in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, the Reds are looking at a number of alternatives and have added the likes of Mason Mount and Alexis Mac Allister, of Chelsea and Brighton respectively, to their shortlist.
"It’s always a challenge, especially at Liverpool, there will always be challenges for places and to play games," said Henderson when asked how the Reds' summer plans could impact him personally. "That’s the case ever since I came to the club. Come pre-season I’ll be ready for the challenge again.
"Motivation never changes really, it is always about improving and being better, individually and as a team. Always new challenges come along, different things will happen and you will have new challenges throughout the season.
"There is always a challenge in football to improve, to be better and that motivation always stayed the same to be successful.
"I’m confident we can reach the levels we are capable of again, definitely. We have shown that over the past six or seven games and it’s about continuing on that path from now until the end of the season and pick up where we left off hopefully."
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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss the possibility of Neymar joining Newcastle, Jude Bellingham's decision on his future and Lionel Messi leaving PSG.
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