Published: 22:30, 7 October 2025 | Updated: 22:30, 7 October 2025

Jordan Henderson couldn’t bring himself to flick on any Premier League football – let alone Liverpool matches – when at home in Saudi Arabia, grappling the lifestyle change, new league and stifling climate.

The way the England midfielder describes that feeling of emptiness at waving goodbye to Anfield after 12 years makes it sound as if he fetched the dressing gown, brought the duvet downstairs and reached for the Cadbury.

‘It felt like a break-up,’ he says. ‘Really tough. It had been my life for so long and then it is just gone like that.’

Henderson clicks his fingers, adding: ‘I struggled for a period after that. I had such an attachment and I dedicated a large part of my life there.’

Remarkably it’s only two years since he joined Al-Ettifaq, the move sold to him by manager Steven Gerrard. Henderson lasted only six months of a £350,000-a-week contract where wages were deferred for tax reasons.

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