Playing for 90
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Early season Liverpool player power rankings

By Chad Dingman

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool celebrates his team's victory following the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on October 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool celebrates his team's victory following the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on October 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson celebrates his side’s victory at full time during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer/CameraSport via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson celebrates his side’s victory at full time during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer/CameraSport via Getty Images) /

1. Jordan Henderson

Henderson has proven his versatility in the center of the pitch, produced well from a deep-lying playmaker position, and has become a top midfielder in the Premier League. He has, without a doubt, been Liverpool’s best and most important player. His game has evolved so much under Klopp, to that deep-lying playmaker/possession role. Although he sits deeper, Henderson is actually the most essential player Liverpool has. The way he moves the ball around in tight areas is mesmerizing as he mixes in accurate long-range passes as well.

The other midfielders help him be able to play his game at his best, but Henderson allows the team to dominate games with efficient ball movement and strength in midfield. Going about his business quietly, Henderson doesn’t attract the same amount of attention that Coutinho has gotten, but he absolutely should.

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Earlier this week, pundit and ex-Liverpool player Graeme Souness expressed the same sentiment. “He is not a silky player, but every team needs someone like Jordan Henderson,” Souness said. “He gets to the ball, he makes people make passes they don’t want to make.” I’d say that sums up Henderson pretty well.

The numbers speak for themselves: 88.5% passing accuracy, while playing over 80 passes per game. His 1.5 chances created per 90 is great for someone who plays as deep as he does. One of only two Liverpool players to start all 11 games this season, Henderson has become more important to the side than anyone else because nobody else can do what he does. Nobody in the squad would be able to replicate his stats, and that is why nobody is more essential to this team or better as a whole than Jordan Henderson.

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