The 10 best Liverpool goals of the 2016/2017 season: VIDEO
By David Gate
Number 2: Jordan Henderson v Chelsea
The eventual champions Chelsea started the season strongly winning their first three games but Liverpool put them on notice with this early season win. At this point they were still playing with a traditional back four and Conte’s switch to three in defense had more than a little to do with how Liverpool took them apart that evening in September. The Reds had grabbed the lead with a Dejan Lovren goal and were dominating the game before Henderson’s wonder goal swung the game firmly in Liverpool’s favor:
We’ve seen Henderson score incredible goals before but this is the pick of the bunch. Chelsea defend a throw in with ease, using their strength to rid the danger from the box. Henderson picks up the clearance over 30 yards out and before Chelsea can see what’s coming it has already happened. He brings down the clearance effortlessly with his left foot to cushion the ball perfectly on to his right. It is teed up like a golfer before a huge drive. Wrapping his body around the ball he unleashes an unstoppable strike.
Thibaut Courtois is not small. He is 6’6 with incredible reach but Henderson dips it over his out stretched hand. He doesn’t even get close. The ball soars over the Belgian stopper with a flawless arc to find the top corner. You can see some of the Chelsea fans think “oh wow’. After the game Antonio Conte bemoaned that there was nothing they could do about that strike. He was right. There is nothing you can do about a shot as perfect as this one.