'Leaving Liverpool was like a break up ...I really struggled after leaving Reds'

JORDAN Henderson likened leaving Liverpool to a breakup and says in hindsight he may have taken "different decisions" than choosing to make the controversial switch to Saudi Arabia.

- By SIMON PEACH

The 35-year-old faced widespread criticism in 2023 when the Reds skipper made a lucrative move to play for Al-Ettifaq in a country where same sex-relationships are illegal.

Henderson had been a high-profile supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and apologised for letting down or hurting anyone in the community having left Saudi to join Ajax six months into a three-year deal.

The midfielder returned to the Premier League this summer by joining Brentford and admits he "struggled for a period" after ending his 12-year association with Liverpool.

"It felt like a breakup," Henderson said. "It was just difficult.

"I think if you asked a lot of players when they leave a club - not just Liverpool - you have been at for so long and have that attachment to, whether you retire or move on, I think for a period of time it's really difficult.

"That was hard but within time things change, you move on, but I would say that was probably the most difficult time."