So… why was Henderson looking to hit the penalty?
By this reckoning, we should all be gunning for him now.
Brendan Rodgers has cleared up – somewhat – the Anfield penalty debacle by stating that Balotelli was right to take the game-winning kick against Besiktas because he is the club’s designated second choice penalty-taker.
Balotelli and Henderson were arguing over who should hit the 85th minute set piece last night and Steven Gerrard hit out at the Italian afterwards, branding him disrespectful.
But, now, Liverpool boss Rodgers has stated that Mario was in the right to take the ball off Henderson.
Ultimately saying that Gerrard and Hendo were in the wrong.
“If those three (Gerrard, Henderson and Balotelli) are on, you have Steven and Mario as your top two,” the manager was quoted in the Liverpool Echo. “Neither of them were on (from the start) so we had to nominate someone. Jordan was the penalty taker.
“But when we got the penalty Mario was on the field. Jordan being someone with responsibility and trust gave the penalty to Mario. There was no issue. There was a bit of a kerfuffle around it because they wanted to make sure he was happy to take it but that’s it really.
“If you are the vice-captain and the captain comes off the bench it’s the etiquette to go and give him the armband. For me it’s a similar thing with the penalty.
“If Steven is on the field there is no drama as he takes the penalty. He’s the first choice penalty taker.
“After that if Mario is on the field he takes the penalty. His history shows he has scored nearly 30 penalties in big games. He’s an outstanding penalty taker.
“If Jordan and Steven and Mario are on the pitch at the same time it would be Steven and Mario as the penalty takers. When neither of them were on, Jordan was the nominated taker. With Mario on the field in a pressure situation, Jordan was happy to take it. But he gave it to Mario, who got his goal and there was no drama.”
Right, so… someone now needs to ask whether or not the manager and captain Stevie G are unhappy with Henderson…
