4. Jordan Henderson
You might be thinking "hang on I thought we were talking about Steven Gerrard?" Well Jordan Henderson has slowy become integral to how Gerrard plays for Liverpool. In his older age, it is fair to say, Gerrard is not quite as fast as he used to be, and Jordan Henderson is the solution to that problem. Jordan Henderson is essentially Gerrard's legs in the midfield. Although coming into good form himself, Henderson allows Gerrard a license to do as he pleases as Henderson can run around the midfield much faster. This became all important when Rodgers implemented a pressing system. While Gerrard presses himself, Henderson is able to close down the defenders Gerrard once did. Along with Lucas, who provides deeper defensive cover, Henderson allows Gerrard to focus on other aspects of the game rather than running. No greater stat backs this up than the fact that Gerrard has
played every minute of every game in the league this year. Not bad for a guy who is supposed to be "too old for the job". In recent years it could be argued that Gerrard was trying to do too much, and then in turn was not as effective because he was caught out, but because of the rise of some midfield help in the form of Jordan Henderson, Gerrard has been able to get back to what he does best.