Liverpool already has 'new Jordan Henderson' that could save Arne Slot millions on transfers

Liverpool's on-loan midfielder Luca Stephenson said he still hopes to live up to the billing as the next Jordan Henderson after scoring again for Dundee United.

Stephenson joined Liverpool from Sunderland as a 15-year-old in 2018, with the youngster following the same career path as Reds great Jordan Henderson, who swapped the Stadium of Light for Anfield in 2011 and went on to skipper Liverpool during the club's most successful period in decades.

Stephenson is yet to make a senior appearance for Liverpool, but has graduated to senior football over the last 18 months, spending last season on loan at Barrow before securing a season-long loan move to Dundee United earlier this year.

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The 21-year-old has predominantly operated as a full-back for the Scottish club but was moved into a central midfield role and scored in a 3-0 win over Ross County over the weekend to take his tally for the season to three goals.

Old comparisons between Stephenson and Henderson were put to the youngster after that win and he responded: “Jordan Henderson; that was the shout back in the day. Hopefully, I can still try to live up to that one!

“When I signed for Liverpool, I signed as a midfielder. I played from the ages of 9 to 15 as a central midfielder at Sunderland. I was more a holder but, as it gradually went on, I became more of a runner into the box, using my engine to get into dangerous areas.

“Through my scholarship at Liverpool, I played in there, so I know the role well. It is only in the last couple of years that I have moved to full-back. So, when the gaffer said on Friday I was playing in there, I thought, let’s roll it back to what I was doing a few years ago. I loved it.”

He added: “I had barely scored a goal before Saturday, let alone a diving header! So, to put that away was really nice. It was a great cross by Will Ferry... Going into the international break, the last thing you want is to be dwelling over a disappointing result. Being fourth [in the Scottish Premiership table] going into the break? We would have taken that at the start of the season.