Published: 02:00, 25 October 2025 | Updated: 02:00, 25 October 2025

There is a wall in a windowless room on the bottom floor of the AXA Training Centre with a curtain. Don’t ask for the interior design quirk behind that — but behind it is a quote from a certain Jordan Henderson.

‘There is no better place to play than Liverpool,’ it says. And although he is loving life at new club Brentford, who play Liverpool today, and also had an enjoyable stint at Ajax last year, former Reds captain Henderson may privately stand by that sentiment.

Arne Slot never worked with Henderson at Liverpool but the Reds boss will know just how influential the 35-year-old was at Anfield, by virtue of seeing his quote up on the wall every day if nothing else.

Not that Slot needs reminding. He gets that every day when catching up with the news back home. The Dutch papers which he reads on his tablet are constantly running pieces on how much Ajax are missing Henderson’s leadership and on-pitch quality.

Around the Liverpool camp, Slot is told...