Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson says he feels “very secure” at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground during the first steps of a phased return to the restart of the Premier League.
He even posted a picture on Instagram in his training jersey- holding his shoes in his hand while giving a thumbs up- to commemorate Liverpool’s return to training.
“I feel very comfortable with all the measures that the Premier League and the club have put in place, along with my team-mates,” Henderson told Sky Sports.
Henderson says the drive to finish the current season, with Liverpool 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of the March shutdown, helped inspire him to remain as healthy as he could during the lockdown:
“My mindset hasn’t changed from where we left off. I always felt the season needed finishing whenever it was safe to do so.
“I’ve stayed as fit as I can so am ready when times come to perform at highest level and finish the season off. That’s been our motivation.”
Liverpool’s players have indeed begun non-contact training in small groups this week, and Henderson is happy that all has been done to ensure that players are as healthy as possible:
“The testing, the temperature control, the social distancing and disinfecting everything has been at a really high level since we’ve been back. They’re doing everything they can to make it as safe as possible.
“We do feel comfortable and that’s why we’re here training. I feel very safe at the training ground, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Henderson is hopeful that contact training (phase two) and a return to Premier League action will follow as soon as it can be done safely:
“In terms of the next steps we’ll be guided by the experts and the doctors.
“We want to follow the right protocol and follow the next steps. We want to start bigger group training and then hopefully start playing games again soon rather than later, whenever it’s safe to do so.”
Henderson is aware that some Premier League players have chosen not to return to non-contact training due to health issues for themselves and their families. He acknowledges and supports their decisions:
“I fully respect their opinion of any players who don’t feel comfortable yet. If any of my team-mates felt like that I would respect and support them. Everyone is in a different situation at home and, ultimately, if you don’t feel comfortable you shouldn’t feel forced or pressured to come into work.”
