Jordan Henderson Reflects on Family Heartache and Return to Action

Liverpool welcomed Jordan Henderson back to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August and benefited from a promising display. The captain's goal and assist from a midfield position was evidence of what Hendersom can bring to the team along with his composure, work ethic, and energy levels.

Being injured isn't usually part of life for Henderson, but his battle with jogger's heel has complicated fitness matters for one of the most durable players around. The captain also opened up to the club's official site on the difficult of losing his grandmother last week.

It has been a difficult time for my family of late on a personal level so that was for them really. It is nice to be playing, being on the pitch and contributing to the team. It was disappointing it wasn't a win but I thought the performance was good at times. We started really well but we should be finishing games off and that is what we have to improve on. But we kept going and managed to get an equaliser late on and I thought we were going to get a winner but we couldn't get the ball over the line. I think that is a real positive we can take out of the day. Even though we went 2-1 down we kept going to the end and that is what you have to do in football. We scored one and were unlucky not to score another one and that could have changed the game in five minutes. You have to keep going right till the end.

Bournemouth's Harry Arter decided to play over the weekend after the terrible loss of his baby daughter. Sometimes personal tragedy and loss crosses over into the world of football, and players carry such burdens like all people do when such unfortunate aspects of life occur. For Henderson, though, his goal provided an opportunity to honour his grandmother on the field.

Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp will need Henderson to be fit for the remainder of the season with multiple competitions to consider.