Jordan Henderson: Healthy Daniel Sturridge Gives Liverpool 'Fear Factor'

Jordan Henderson hopes the “fear factor” provided by having Daniel Sturridge in the Liverpool team can spearhead a more consistent and productive run of form.

The striker was back in the starting 11 for the Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Sunday and needed just 16 minutes to find the net, heading home from Philippe Coutinho’s delivery into the area.

With those two and Roberto Firmino combining intelligently and with speed up front at Villa Park, the Reds dominated the contest and plundered six goals without response to take the points.

Sturridge’s contribution followed a promising personal cameo in the FA Cup defeat against West Ham United — and Henderson is delighted Jurgen Klopp can call on the No. 15’s clinical talent again.

“Studge makes a huge difference,” Henderson said. “You can see in the games that he has played how much he has been missed.

“He has been brilliant since he has come back (into) training and is looking really sharp. Hopefully he can continue to stay fit and cause problems when he plays.

“Everyone knows how good he is but because he has been out for a while, you do forget the quality he has got and how good he actually is.

“There are lads in training who maybe haven’t seen that much of him and they have been very impressed. Then you look at him in the games with his movement. His sharpness is top drawer. He is a massive bonus for us.

“He definitely gives us that fear factor back. Any central defender playing against him will be wary. They know how quick he is, how sharp he is with the ball.

“He can cause anyone problems, and I’m sure any center half in the world would be worried about coming up against him.”