THE EX FACTOR

Quitting Anfield was like a break-up for Jordan

- by JOHN CROSS

JORDAN HENDERSON has admitted leaving Liverpool was so painful that it felt like a breakup.

The England midfielder, 35, caused major shockwaves when he left Anfield two years ago to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.

And Henderson says he was so hurt by the whole experience that he could not even bear to watch his old side’s games on television.

Within six months he quit to join Ajax in Holland and is now back in English football with Brentford.

The former Liverpool captain enjoyed an incredible 12 years at Anfield where he won the Premier League title and Champions League and found the split the hardest time of his career.

“It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool, I was there for a long period of time,” said Henderson.

“At any point it was going to be hard because it had been my life for so long and then it is just gone like that, so I struggled for a period after that.