Liverpool skipper Henderson wants player welfare taken more seriously in Covid crisis

Midfielder believes their views should have more influence

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson wants players to have more say amid the Covid crisis. Reuters

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is concerned that player welfare is not being taken seriously enough amid the Covid crisis.

The Premier League announced on Monday its intention to continue with the scheduled matches over the Christmas period, even though there were 90 confirmed coronavirus cases among players and staff recorded last week.

A shareholders’ meeting which involved representatives from all 20 clubs came to a collective decision to carry on with the campaign as planned, despite six of the 10 games last weekend being off due to Covid outbreaks.

“I don’t think people can appreciate how intense it is until you actually see it first hand,” Henderson told BBC Sport.

“Football to us is everything and we want to be able to perform at the highest level every time we set foot on the pitch. And unfortunately, in this period it is difficult to do that.

“That has been like this for a few years now and it has been difficult but then, on top of that, you chuck in Covid and it becomes even harder and even worse.

“I am concerned that nobody really takes player welfare seriously.

“I think decisions get made – of course we want to play as footballers, we want to get out there and play – but I am worried about player welfare and I don’t think anybody does take that seriously enough, especially in this period, when Covid is here.

Tottenham v Liverpool player ratings

TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris - 7 The Frenchman made a magnificent reflex stop from Alexander-Arnold and a handful of more straightforward saves. He was alert when coming off his line to snuff out danger. EPA

Davinson Sanchez - 7 The Colombian made a tremendous last-ditch challenge on Mane but lost the striker before Liverpool’s equaliser. He made plenty of blocks and clearances. AFP

Eric Dier - 7 The 27-year-old was assured when defending and used his passing ability to set Spurs going forward. His balls over the top turned the Liverpool back four around. He is suited to a back three. Getty

Ben Davies - 7 The Welshman played a big part in keeping Salah under control. He thrived in his role on the left side of a back three. Getty

Emerson Royal - 5 The Brazilian got away with a shove on Jota in the area and had difficulty coping with Mane. He was poleaxed by Robertson, who received a warranted red card. Getty

Harry Winks - 8 The 25-year-old was able to find time and space in the middle of the park. He had a hand in the equaliser and provided two good chances for Son. AP

Tanguy Ndombele - 5 The Frenchman’s pass to Kane for the first goal was a rare highlight. He disappeared for lengthy periods and was replaced by Skipp in the 64th minute. Getty

Ryan Sessegnon - 7 The 21-year-old had to restrain his attacking instincts to help keep Salah quiet but still got forward. It was an encouraging display on his first Premier League start for almost two years. He was replaced by Reguilon with four minutes to go. Getty

Dele Alli - 7 The 25-year-old missed a sitter and was a bit casual when passing to Kane in the box. He showed signs of returning to form before being replaced by Moura with nine minutes left. AP

Son Heung-min - 6 The South Korean scored his side’s second goal but he also wasted two big chances. His pace troubled the defence but he was not at his sharpest. EPA

Harry Kane - 6 The England captain struck with a great goal but will rue a plethora of missed chances. He was some way short of his best and should have been sent off for a wild challenge on Robertson. Getty

SUBS: Oliver Skipp - 7 The 21-year-old came on for Ndombele in the 64th minute. He provided more support for the defence and brought more vigour to the midfield. Getty

Lucas Moura - 5 The Brazilian joined the action for Alli with nine minutes to go. He spent more time in his own half despite Liverpool being down to 10 men. Getty

Sergio Reguilon - 5 The Spaniard replaced Sessegnon for the last four minutes. He saw little of the ball but did miscue a chance to cross. Reuters

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 5 The Brazilian made some great saves, particularly from Alli, but had moments of confusion coming off the line. The most costly of them was the moment of misjudgement that led to Son’s goal. Getty

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7 The 23-year-old tested Lloris twice and picked out Robertson for the second goal. He worked hard defensively, too. Getty

Joel Matip - 6 The centre back was worried by Son’s pace and was caught out on occasion. He tried to bring the ball forward but might have been better off passing to more creative team-mates. Reuters

Ibrahima Konate - 7 The Frenchman made a splendid block from Kane but allowed the striker to drift away from him before the opening goal. Overall another encouraging performance. EPA

Andrew Robertson - 6 The Scot was brilliant, creating Jota’s opener and scoring his team’s second goal. Kane should have been given a red card for his challenge on the left back but the 27-year-old was deservedly sent off for a brutal hack on Emerson. Getty

Tyler Morton - 4 It was always going to be tough for the 19-year-old to impress on his first Premier League start and it was a harsh learning experience. He was swamped by the Spurs midfield and replaced by Firmino after an hour. Reuters

Naby Keita - 5 The Guinean rarely imposed himself in Liverpool’s makeshift midfield. His shot from distance had Lloris scrambling. EPA

James Milner - 5 The 35-year-old no longer has the legs to play whole games at this pace. He used space well and was combative in the tackle but was unable to set the team’s tempo. EPA

Mohamed Salah - 5 The Egyptian was barely a factor against the packed defence. He remained eager even though chances were hard to find. EPA

Diogo Jota - 6 The Portuguese had barely been in the game before he equalised but he headed home with aplomb. He could have had a penalty after being barged in the back. Withdrawn in stoppage time for Gomez. EPA

Sadio Mane - 6 The Senegalese made life awkward for Emerson and combined well with Robertson. He was unable to carve out much danger and was taken off for Tsimikas with eight minutes to go. AFP

SUBS: Roberto Firmino - 6 The Brazilian joined the action for Morton on the hour and linked play nicely without ever worrying Spurs unduly. EPA

Kostas Tsimikas - 6 The Greek was sent on with eight minutes left for Mane. He took every opportunity to get forward but could not find a killer cross. EPA

Joe Gomez - 5 The centre back replaced Jota in stoppage time to bolster the defence. His presence was reassuring as Liverpool ensured they held on to the point. Getty

“We will try to have conversations in the background and try to have some sort of influence going forward, but at the minute I don’t feel the players get the respect they deserve in terms of having somebody being able to speak for them independently and having the power to say actually this isn’t right for player welfare.”

Liverpool are among the affected clubs and were without a number of key players for their 2-2 draw at Tottenham at the weekend, including Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Thiago.

Including that game, the Reds have five games in two weeks with Covid cases and injuries to deal with.

Liverpool assistant boss Pep Lijnders said on Tuesday: “For me the experts are not the managers, they are the scientists and the doctors and we should follow their guidelines.

“The Premier League should ask them, not the CEOs, not the managers, because health always comes position number one above everything.”